A woman who caused a fatal accident while rushing to a beauty salon has been spared jail time. Laila Barnard-Wigley was driving her Mercedes when she collided head-on with another vehicle due to driving too fast in wet conditions after heavy rain. The collision resulted in the tragic deaths of Dean Yarrow, 33, and Faye Wardle, 32.
Barnard-Wigley, 27, admitted to the careless driving that led to the fatalities in May 2021. The incident occurred on the A165 near Bridlington, where her car collided with another vehicle driven by Mr. Yarrow. Prosecutors argued that Barnard-Wigley’s speed was unsuitable for the weather conditions, leading to the deadly crash.
According to reports, Barnard-Wigley was in a rush to reach a beauty salon before its closing time at 3:30 pm to sell beauty products. She had been overtaking vehicles to navigate through traffic quickly before the tragic accident.
Despite sustaining serious injuries and being hospitalized, Barnard-Wigley expressed remorse for her actions. The court sentenced her to a 21-month suspended prison term, 200 hours of unpaid work, and a curfew from 9 pm to 6 am for six months. Additionally, she received a five-year driving ban and must pass an extended retest before regaining her driving privileges.
The families of the victims shared their profound grief and the impact the loss has had on their lives. While the sentence cannot bring back Dean and Faye, Barnard-Wigley’s lawyer acknowledged the tragic nature of the event and her lack of awareness of the risks associated with driving in wet conditions.