Driver Admits Guilt After Fatal E-Scooter Collision That Killed Siblings
Deimante Ziobryte, a 21-year-old woman, has admitted failing to stop at the scene of a fatal road collision that resulted in the deaths of a brother and sister riding an e-scooter together. The tragic incident occurred in Pitsea, Essex, and has left a community in mourning.
Court Appearance and Guilty Plea
Ziobryte appeared at Basildon Magistrates Court this morning, where she pleaded guilty to the offence in a trembling voice. Chairman of the Bench Paul Fisher warned her that imprisonment could not be ruled out as a potential sentence. The court imposed an interim driving disqualification with immediate effect and adjourned sentencing until May 6 to allow for a probation report.
The defendant, who was visibly pregnant and dressed in a short black dress and black patent shoes, was driving her Audi A1 on February 1 last year when she arrived at a junction simultaneously with Roman and Darcie Casselden, aged 16 and nine respectively. Prosecutor Rohini Majumdar stated that Ziobryte swerved to avoid a collision but was unable to prevent contact, resulting in catastrophic injuries to the children.
Aftermath of the Collision
Following the impact, Ziobryte continued driving before eventually pulling over nearby. Instead of contacting emergency services, she made multiple phone calls to family members. She did not return to the scene to speak with police. Witnesses described how members of the public desperately tried to save Roman and Darcie before paramedics arrived.
Darcie was declared dead at 7.10pm, while Roman, an apprentice football coach, was pronounced dead 40 minutes later. A post-mortem examination revealed both siblings suffered traumatic head injuries. Essex Police confirmed the pair had been riding together on a private e-scooter at the time of the collision.
Family Tributes and Community Grief
The public gallery was packed with members of the children's family, including their mother, Emma Keeling, who were too upset to comment after the hearing. In a Facebook post after the crash, Keeling described her "2 beautiful babies" and thanked paramedics, air ambulance crew, and members of the public who tried to save them.
She later issued a statement through police, praising Roman as having "a heart of gold" and dedicating his time to working with children in the community. Darcie was remembered as "a soul filled with creativity and beauty" who brought joy to those who knew her. The children's father, Alec Casselden, also expressed his grief on social media.
Dozens of floral tributes and cuddly toys were left at the scene of the collision, with messages expressing sorrow and remembrance. The siblings were laid to rest at Pitsea Cemetery a month after their deaths, with a funeral paid for through an online fundraising appeal that attracted over £30,000 in donations.
E-Scooter Safety Concerns
The tragedy occurred days after Basildon Council voted to ban an e-scooter hire trial, citing concerns that the vehicles were causing "havoc" and being left scattered across town. Councillor Aidan McGurran expressed delight at the decision, highlighting growing worries about accidents and criminal use.
Locals have described the area where the collision happened as an accident blackspot, with concerns about speeding and streetlights being turned off after midnight. A Freedom of Information request to Essex Police in August 2024 revealed over 230 crashes involving scooters or electric bikes in the past five years.
A Daily Mail investigation in February last year found that e-scooter collisions had trebled in three years, with more than 20,000 offences recorded. Between 2020 and 2023, 29 people died in 4,515 collisions, causing 4,807 injuries, 1,402 of them serious. The data shows a sharp increase from 460 collisions in 2020 to 1,411 in 2022.
The Hearts Academy Trust and Charity Achievement Through Football paid tribute to the children, describing them as beloved members of their communities. As the case proceeds to sentencing, the incident underscores ongoing debates about e-scooter safety and road regulations.
