Driver in court over crash that killed siblings

A driver has appeared in court charged with failing to stop at the scene of a crash that killed a brother and sister who were riding an e-scooter.

Siblings Roman Casselden, 16, and nine-year-old Darcie died after they were struck by a car in Pitsea, near Basildon in Essex, on 1 February.

Essex Police said the driver of a car, Deimante Ziobryte, appeared at Basildon Magistrates' Court on 28 August.

The 21-year-old, of Merrivale in Benfleet, did not enter a plea and will return to court on 8 January.

Ms Ziobryte "remains on bail in connection with other driving offences and our investigation into those is ongoing", police said.

A man in his 20s, who was arrested in connection with the crash, was told by officers he faced no further action.

An inquest into the two deaths, which was opened and suspended in February pending the outcome of the police investigation, heard both siblings died of a traumatic head injury.

Area coroner Michelle Brown said they had been "travelling on an e-scooter" near the Stokefelde junction with Ashlyns.

Emergency services in attendance pronounced Darcie dead at 19:10 and Roman at 19:50, she told the inquest.

Ms Brown said: "They were very, very young and these were tragic circumstances."

The children's mother, Emma, said in a statement released through police that "their love, kindness, and spirit live on in the hearts of all who knew them".

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