Pregnant Driver Admits Fleeing Scene of Fatal E-Scooter Collision in Essex
A 21-year-old pregnant woman has been formally warned she could face a prison sentence after pleading guilty to leaving the scene of a devastating crash that claimed the lives of a teenage boy and his younger sister in Essex. Deimante Ziobryte, from Benfleet, admitted failing to stop following the collision in Ashlyns, Pitsea, which resulted in the deaths of 16-year-old Roman Casselden and his nine-year-old sister, Darcie Casselden, on February 1 last year.
Details of the Tragic Incident
Prosecutor Rohini Majumdar outlined the events in court, stating that Ziobryte was driving an Audi A1 when it collided with an e-scooter carrying the two siblings. "They approached a junction," Majumdar explained. "The defendant swerved in an attempt to avoid a collision, but unfortunately, contact was made. The two youths on the e-scooter suffered fatal injuries as a direct result."
Majumdar emphasized that Ziobryte "continued to drive and did not stop" immediately after the accident. Instead, she "made multiple calls to family members but not to police or emergency services." The prosecutor noted that "at no point did the defendant return to the scene of the collision to speak to police," highlighting the severity of the failure to stop.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Ziobryte's legal representative requested an adjournment for pre-sentence reports, citing her pregnancy. Presiding magistrate Paul Fisher granted bail until May 6, when she is scheduled to be sentenced at Basildon Magistrates' Court. Fisher issued a stern warning, stating, "We cannot rule out a term of imprisonment," underscoring the gravity of the offence despite her lack of previous convictions.
Essex Police confirmed that Ziobryte faces no further action regarding a potential charge of causing death by dangerous driving, focusing solely on the failure to stop. Inquests into the siblings' deaths, opened and suspended last year pending investigation, revealed both died from traumatic head injuries. Area coroner Michelle Brown detailed that the pair were "travelling on an e-scooter" involved in a collision with a motor vehicle on Ashlyns approaching Stokefelde.
Community Impact and Family Statement
Emergency services attended the scene, pronouncing Darcie dead at 7:10 PM and Roman at 7:50 PM. The coroner provided a provisional cause of death for each child as "traumatic head injury pending further investigation." In a heartfelt statement released through police, the children's mother, Emma, expressed that "their love, kindness, and spirit live on in the hearts of all who knew them," reflecting the profound loss felt by the community.
This case highlights critical issues surrounding road safety, particularly involving e-scooters, and the legal obligations of drivers in accident scenarios. The upcoming sentencing will determine the consequences for Ziobryte's actions, with the court weighing her personal circumstances against the tragic outcomes of the crash.
