Driver spared jail after fatal crash while rushing to salon

Woman Spared Jail After Fatal Crash

A woman who killed two parents in a head-on crash while rushing to a beauty salon has been spared jail.

Laila Barnard-Wigley, 27, was driving a black Mercedes GLA in heavy rain when she collided with Dean Yarrow, 33, and his girlfriend Faye Wardle, 32.

The couple was declared dead after the crash in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, on May 7, 2021.

Their two-year-old son, who was in the car, suffered serious injuries and is now orphaned.

Charges and Court Proceedings

Barnard-Wigley was initially charged with causing death by dangerous driving, but those charges were later dropped.

Facing a retrial, she admitted to two counts of causing death by careless driving.

During her first trial, it was revealed that she was “in a hurry” to reach a beauty salon to sell makeup.

She veered across the road due to aquaplaning and crashed into Dean and Faye as they drove in the opposite direction.

The couple’s Peugeot ended up in a field after the collision.

Victim Statements

In Hull Crown Court, victim statements were read during Barnard-Wigley’s sentencing.

Mr. Yarrow’s mother expressed her deep grief, stating she had “never known so much pain” and felt her world was destroyed.

She described feeling “broken beyond repair” and noted the difficulty of the past four-and-a-half years since losing Dean and Faye.

Miss Wardle’s father mentioned that “the silence is deafening” at home since their deaths.

Miss Wardle’s sister said, “She was the person I looked up to,” and expressed that part of her identity was taken.

Defense and Sentencing

Richard Dawson, mitigating for Barnard-Wigley, called the case tragic with catastrophic consequences.

He expressed condolences to the victims’ families and noted that the sentence could not restore their lives.

Dawson stated that Barnard-Wigley felt guilt and remorse for her actions.

He described the incident as “simple driver error” due to road conditions and a “momentary lapse” in judgment.

The judge noted Barnard-Wigley’s genuine remorse, good work record, and self-employed status.

Sentencing Details

Barnard-Wigley received a 21-month suspended prison sentence.

Additionally, she was sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid work and a six-month curfew from 9 PM to 6 AM.

She was banned from driving for five years and must pass an extended retest to drive legally again.