Road Rage Woman jailed caused death of friend and unborn child

A 26yr woman has been jailed after she pleaded guilty to causing deaths by dangerous driving

Emma-Louise Robinson, 26, of Toms Lane, Kings Langley, appeared at St Albans Crown Court yesterday (Thursday 20 May) where she pleaded guilty to one count of causing death by dangerous driving.

Emma was given two years + four months prison sentence for causing the death of her friend in a road traffic collision in Hemel Hempstead.

The court heard how on Tuesday 25 August last year, Emma-Louise picked up her friend Gracie Estep, also 26, from her home in Hemel Hempstead get a takeaway meal.

Whikst driving her white Fiat 500 when she began tailgating a Toyota travelling in the right-hand lane as they came to St Albans Road dual carriageway towards the Plough Roundabout, known locally as the Magic Roundabout.

Witnesses saw the Fiat being driven erratically and aggressively, and they believed it was a road rage incident. They told police that it initially attempted a dangerous undertake manoeuvre but was unsuccessful due to the proximity of other vehicles.

Robinson then completed a second undertake manoeuvre, travelling across into the left-hand lane and pulling back into the right-hand lane, in front of the Toyota, leaving only a small gap between the two vehicles.

The Fiat was then seen to ‘brake test’ the Toyota, the driver tried to take evasive action to avoid a collision. But the cars were too close together and the Toyota hit the rear of the Fiat, which then crossed the central reservation.

The Fiat being bumped then collided with a BMW travelling in the opposite direction before overturning and coming to rest on the verge.

Sadly, Gracie suffered serious injuries and tragically passed away at the scene, sadly leaving behind her two young children without a mother.

Emma Robinson who 20 weeks pregnant at the time, was also injured and airlifted to hospital for treatment. Due to the collision had sadly lost the baby as a result. She also suffered ligament and muscle damage in the collision and has since been registered disabled.

The drivers of the Toyota and BMW, both male, were also injured in the collision and required hospital treatment.

Detective Constable Helen Giles, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “My thoughts are first and foremost with Gracie’s family as they continue to try and process an unimaginable loss.

“This was a devastating collision which claimed the life of an innocent woman, leaving her two young children to grow up without a mother, and all because the defendant could not control her anger behind the wheel.

“Robinson’s actions not only caused the death of her friend but also that of her own unborn child, which is hugely distressing and something she will now have to live with for the rest of her life.

“The drivers of the two other vehicles involved also suffered painful injuries and their mental health has been affected as a result of the terrible events on that day, which were not their fault in any way.

“This case shows how fragile life is and how a moment of anger can have irreversible and far-reaching implications. I hope Gracie’s family can find some closure following the conclusion of the court case, but we know that nothing will ever bring her back.”

Robinson is now banned from driving for three years and two months and will be required to take an extended re-test to get her driving licence in the future.