A woman from Kings Langley has been sentenced to 28 months in prison after a fatal crash last year which killed her best friend.
Emma Louise Robinson, 26, of Toms Lane, Kings Langley pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and was given a 28-month sentence on Thursday, May 20.
On August 25, 2020, Emma was driving her Fiat 500 along A414 St Albans Road in Hemel Hempstead when the car overturned and crashed into a vehicle on the opposite carriageway.
St Albans Crown Court heard that Robinson was driving her white Fiat when she began tailgating a Toyota travelling in the right-hand lane towards the Plough Roundabout.
Witnesses described the Fiat as being driven erratically and aggressively, and they believed it was a road rage incident. They told officers it initially attempted a dangerous undertake manoeuvre but was unsuccessful due to the proximity of other vehicles.
The Fiat was then seen to ‘brake test’ the Toyota, the driver of which tried to take evasive action to avoid a collision. However the vehicles were too close together and the front of the Toyota hit the rear of the Fiat, which then crossed the central reservation.
The Fiat collided with a BMW travelling in the opposite direction before overturning and coming to rest on the verge.
Mother-of-two Grace Estep, 26, who was a passenger in the Fiat suffered serious injuries which sadly proved to be fatal.
Grace’s family previously paid a heart-warming tribute to the mother of two shortly after her death.
They said: “Grace was the most loving, caring mother to our two beautiful grandbabies, Alfie and Ruby, and was also the most wonderful daughter, who we truly cherished.
“The light in our universe has been extinguished. May you rest your beautiful soul in peace, love mummy and your King xxx”
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 had previously been banned from driving and fined in 2019, after failing to provide a breath specimen when asked by police.
She will also be disqualified from driving for three years and two months and will be required to take an extended retest before driving again.
Picture credit Dacorum Police
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