Driver spared jail after two friends killed in South Elkington crash

Ewan McEwan and Grace Wheatley were killed in the crash in August 2022

A new driver has been spared jail despite admitting causing the deaths of two friends in a crash just 28 days after passing her test.

Ewan McEwan and Grace Wheatley, both 19, died after Lara Jensen crashed a Toyota Aygo into another car on the A631 in South Elkington in August 2022.

A third passenger, Harrison Steele, also 19, spent 11 days in hospital after suffering multiple injuries.

Jensen, 20, was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

Lincoln Crown Court was told the friends had been travelling to Hatcliffe on 9 August 2022 to watch the sunset before they began university.

The court heard Jensen, from Grimsby, was being directed by Ms Wheatley using an app from the front passenger seat.

However at a triangular junction between Louth and Market Rasen she crossed into the path of an oncoming car.

A police accident investigator concluded Jensen misjudged the speed and distance of the other vehicle, possibly due to her inexperience as a driver, the court was told.

Ms Wheatley, from Cleethorpes, died at the scene despite witnesses attempting CPR for up to 25 minutes.

She had just won a place at Manchester University to study fashion and photography.

'Not a criminal'

In a victim impact statement, Ms Wheatley's family described her as "sensitive, intuitive, kind-hearted and loving".

The statement added: "To us Lara is not a criminal, she is a young driver who made a mistake."

Mr McEwan, an art student who had lived in Africa before moving to Grimsby, underwent six operations after the crash but died two weeks later.

His father John described him as a "gentle giant", adding: "As a family we bear no malice to Lara. She was, after all, Ewan's friend.

"Sending her away will not help in the healing process."

Jensen pleaded guilty to causing the deaths of Ms Wheatley and Mr McEwan by careless driving and causing serious injury to Mr Steele by careless driving.

Mitigating, Lisa Hardy said Jensen had since dropped out of her "dream course" in architecture at Manchester University.

She now suffered anxiety in cars and was unlikely to drive again, Ms Hardy added.

Judge Simon Hirst told Jensen he regarded her driving as an "unsafe manoeuvre over a brief period of time".

He said there was significant personal mitigation and prospects of rehabilitation, which meant he could suspend her jail sentence.

Jensen was also banned from driving for two years and told she must take an extended driving test.