Schoolgirl admits killing friend in crash

A private schoolgirl who killed her friend in a highway smash ignored warnings she was too drunk to drive, a British court has heard.


Grace Hadman (left) died when friend Gabriella Edmondson (right) crashed her car after partying.

Gabriella Edmondson, 18, told one of her passengers that it was "my car, my rules" when they tried to grab her keys after celebrating the beginning of Easter school holidays at a nightclub on April 7.

Her Toyota Yaris veered off a road and crashed into a barrier near Oxford, southeast England, at about 4.15am.

Close friend and fellow student Grace Hadman died in the accident, while teenage boy Joe Robinson was left critically injured.

A fourth passenger escaped with minor injuries.

Police testing revealed Edmonson was one-and-a-half times the drink-driving limit.

She is now facing up to 14 years in prison after admitting causing death by careless driving while drunk.

She was granted unconditional bail but was banned from the road until she is sentenced next month.

"The Crown says she was clearly drunk," the Daily Mail reported prosecutor Cathy Olliver as saying.

"Two people told her not to drive and one person tried to take the keys away from her.

"She said something along the lines of 'my car, my rules'."

Grace's parents paid tribute to their daughter, who was captain of the school netball team.

"We can hardly manage without her," Bill and Caroline Hadman said in a statement.

"To us, she was the most perfect girl — thoughtful, kind, knowing, sensible, bubbly, happy, endlessly smiling, loving, and giving — so very beautiful inside and out."

http://z6.invisionfree.com/Forensic_Science/index.php?showtopic=100&st=0

Yet another senseless death of a young girl.

Aye, it's right enough and seems to be happening far to often these days and not always through alcohol but just general showing off.
About time they increased the age limit for obtaining a driving licence.
It may help as hopefuly at say 21 or 25, they will be that bit much more mature and aware of the possible consequences of their actions.

Happens all too often. Driving tests should be tougher as it is not just drink driving like gambit said. Young drivers are unaware of their lack of capability in various conditions.

Thought of it will never happen to them are one of the reasons why that age group should be excluded from obtaining a driving licence.
Over confidence in your own ability may be fine in certain aspects but certainly not when you are in charge of what is basicaly a weapon when placed in the wrong hands.

I think we all know that teenagers think they're invincible. But that apart the main problem as I see it is that its too easy for them to get high performance cars nowadays. They pass their test and daddy buys them a car. The ones that buy their own are able to get huge amounts of credit thanks to the age we live in. There's something to be said for having to wait till you have the money before you get something like that. You tend to appreciate it more and look after it. Kids today get too much handed to them on a plate and they don't take care of anything. Incidentally that doesn't apply to all kids but it certainly does to a large number. Maybe if they had to work to pay for these things, they would take better care. Because lets face it, its carelessness that causes most of the accidents involving youngsters, not drink.