Memorial unveiled to siblings killed on e-scooter

A "poignant and lasting tribute" to two children killed in an e-scooter crash has been unveiled.

The memorial cherry tree and bench, near Little Searles Play Park in Pitsea, close to Basildon, Essex, have been put there in memory of siblings Roman and Darcie Casselden, who died on 1 February 2025.

Basildon Borough Council funded the memorial after the "community was rocked by the awful incident", with the leader of the council saying he could not "begin to imagine the pain of losing two children in one day".

Councillors met the children's family on Friday for the unveiling, and their mother Emma Keeling said it was lovely to see the tributes.

Roman, 16, and Darcie, nine, were on an e-scooter when they were hit by a car.

Their deaths sparked demands for better road safety in Ashlyns, Pitsea, and a petition has been launched to try to get improvements.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Emma thanked the councillors and said: "It was lovely seeing the bench for Roman and Darcie finally in place, and we have chosen a cherry tree and planted that with the council.

"Thank you to councillors Pat Reid, Gavin Callaghan, Emma Callaghan and the committee for making this happen.

"We have put some lovely flowers down and decorated the sides of the bench. It looks so lovely."

Council leader Gavin Callaghan said: "No family should ever have to face that kind of loss.

"The strength and dignity this family continue to show is extraordinary.

"I told them that this weekend, the whole of our borough will be thinking of them and of all the family and friends who are still grieving for two beautiful children taken far too soon.

"Roman and Darcie will never be forgotten."

Deimante Ziobryte, 21, of Benfleet, has been charged with failing to stop at the scene of a collision in relation to the crash.

She is next due in court in March.

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