Driver jailed after causing crash that killed two

A 21-year-old woman has been jailed for six years and eight months after killing two people in a car crash, less than a month after passing her driving test.

Taxi driver Octavian Codreanu and his passenger Moyra Whelan died in the four-vehicle pile-up on the B4425 near Aldsworth, Gloucestershire, on 2 December 2022.

Liberty Mitchell, from Chipping Norton, previously admitted two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by driving whilst uninsured.

Mitchell, who was 18 at the time, had been travelling 96mph in a 60mph zone seconds before impact. She was sentenced earlier at Gloucestershire Crown Court.

She also pleaded guilty to three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving in relation to the incident.

History teacher Moyra Whelan had been on the way to a wedding of one of her school friends at the time of the crash. The 35-year-old later died in hospital.

Her family described her as "straight talking, fun loving friend to many and the sunshine of our family".

Taxi driver Octavian Codreanu, who had been driving Whelan to the event, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The court heard that at the time of the crash, Mitchell was self-employed as a cleaner and was travelling between holiday cottages in the area in order to clean them.

Driving a Mini Cooper, she attempted to overtake three vehicles at once while travelling at 96mph, before trying to abort the manoeuvre and hitting the taxi.

The crash involved a grey Mini Cooper, a black Audi A3, a grey Polestar 2 and a black Seat Leon.

Three people were taken to the Southmead and John Radcliffe hospitals with serious injuries, while eight others were transported to Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General hospitals.

The court heard injuries suffered by those in the crash included a fractured hip, broken ribs, severe abdominal wounds and shattered bones protruding through the skin.

Nicola Cooper, one of the passengers in the taxi, said: "The crash itself was traumatic, the impact felt endless.

"I live with survivor's guilt and the trauma of losing one of my closest friends, Moyra, who was sitting just inches from me.

"I lie awake at night thinking about the 'what ifs'."

Katy-Louise Whelan, Moyra Whelan's younger sister, said: "She had so much left that she wanted to experience, but the opportunity was stolen from her and we are devastated.

"I'm still absolutely incredulous that she is not with us any more.

"It's like the light of the world is dimmed, and we will never be able to turn it back on again.

"One aspect that haunts me is that my sister died violently. I'm truly devastated that my beautiful, innocent sister was subjected to that."

Simon Stirling, defending, suggested Mitchell's actions were a result of "inexperience rather than irresponsibility".

He added that Mitchell had only passed her driving test three weeks earlier and would not have understood the risk of the manoeuvre she was attempting.

Gloucestershire Police said an analysis of Mitchell's social media found that she had been filming Snapchat videos while behind the wheel.

These videos showed her "lack of care for driving safely", police said, with one showing her veering onto the opposite side of the road towards an oncoming car as friends shouted for her to stop.

Judge Lowe said: "You were, at the time, a reckless and immature young driver suffering from the frankly common teenage delusion that you were invulnerable and free to do as you wished.

"The lives of all the victims and their families have been irrevocably changed."

Mitchell must serve half of her sentence in custody before being eligible for release on licence.

She has also been disqualified from driving for eight years and four months, must undertake an extended driving test to regain her licence, and was ordered to pay a statutory surcharge.

Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.