A motorist who did not stop following a collision that resulted in the deaths of a brother and sister has been spared jail time.
Roman Casselden, 16, and his nine-year-old sister Darcie Casselden lost their lives in a tragic accident involving an e-scooter in Ashlyns, Pitsea, Essex, on February 1 of last year.
Deimante Ziobryte, 21, had previously admitted to failing to stop at the scene of the collision. The charge stated that Ziobryte was driving an Audi A1 that failed to stop after causing harm to Roman and Darcie. Emotional victim impact statements from the children’s parents were read in Basildon Magistrates’ Court, leading Ziobryte to weep.
Emma Keeling, the mother, expressed in court that she suffers from sleepless nights and that the incident has completely shattered her life. She emphasized that she will never be the same after the tragedy.
Alec Casselden, the father, revealed his nightmares of envisioning his children lying alone on the road. He questioned why Ziobryte would leave two children to fend for themselves and drive off.
Ziobryte received a three-month suspended prison sentence lasting 12 months. Essex Police initially arrested Ziobryte on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, but later decided not to pursue this charge.
The incident occurred as the siblings were nearing a junction on an e-scooter, and Ziobryte’s vehicle collided with them, as per prosecution by Jasmin Akter.
CCTV footage indicated that Ziobryte stopped away from the scene and made calls to family members but did not contact emergency services or return to the site of the collision.
Ziobryte was handed a three-month suspended custodial sentence, along with 80 hours of community service and 20 rehabilitation days. Additionally, she was banned from driving for three years starting March 6 and ordered to pay £239 in costs.
Hulusi Ali, representing Ziobryte, described the incident as a panic-induced failure after a devastating event. He shared a letter from Ziobryte expressing her deep remorse for the situation.
The prosecutor, Rohini Majumdar, previously mentioned that Ziobryte swerved to avoid a collision but made contact with the youths, leading to their fatal injuries.
Roman and Darcie succumbed to severe head injuries after the collision while riding the e-scooter along Ashlyns towards Stokefelde, an inquest revealed. Darcie was pronounced dead at 7.10pm, and Roman at 7.50pm by emergency services.
Ziobryte, who recently became a mother to a three-week-old daughter, pleaded guilty to the charge of failing to stop at the scene of the collision.
Emma, the mother, conveyed through the police that the love and spirit of her children continue to live on in the hearts of those who knew them.
Deputy District Judge Jennifer Twite expressed deep sadness over the case, highlighting the unimaginable grief of Darcie and Roman’s parents. She emphasized the impact of Ziobryte’s failure to stop at the accident scene on the parents’ suffering, acknowledging the fortunate intervention of other individuals at the scene.
Twite considered Ziobryte’s previous good character, early guilty plea, and recent childbirth in her sentencing decision.