In a tragic case heard at Lincoln Crown Court, Amy Sheppard, 29, was handed a 20 month suspended prison sentence. The sentence comes as a result of a dreadful crash on the A52 in Sutton on Sea which took the lives of her two young sons. On 2 October 2023, Sheppard lost control of her Vauxhall Astra due to a poorly inflated tyre, culminating in a head-on collision with an Audi. The unfortunate crash resulted in the death of her eight and six-year-old sons and also left a four-year-old child injured. Three adults in the Audi sustained serious injuries themselves.
Sheppard, a Mumby Road, Hutoft resident, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by careless driving, as well as three counts of causing serious injury by careless driving. The court established that Sheppard had been returning home after dropping her children at school when the fatal accident occurred along a bend in the road. David Eager, the Prosecutor, underscored that Sheppard had been cognisant of the issue with her tyre, having sent a message to her partner about it the day before. Regrettably, only the front right tyre was examined, overlooking the crucial problem.
The issue with the deflated tyre was left unresolved, despite there being local petrol stations equipped with air machines close by. Prior to the accident, a witness observed Sheppard’s vehicle “wallowing” due to the deflated tyre. The accident resulted in the immediate death of her son Louie at the scene, with her other son, Mason, passing away from his injuries several hours later at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.
Katherine Robinson, mitigating for Sheppard, highlighted her severe mental health issues in the aftermath of the incident. She also drew attention to Sheppard’s responsibilities as the primary caregiver for one more child, underlining her potential for rehabilitation. Judge James House KC, during the sentencing, characterised the unfortunate day as ending in “absolute tragedy,” attributing the dire consequences to Sheppard’s negligence in not addressing the tyre problem.
Locally, the community, including Mablethorpe Primary Academy where the brothers were students, have communicated their profound grief for the loss. The school extended sincere condolences to the family, paying tribute to the memory of Louie and Mason.
This story has been reproduced based on initial reporting by www.bbc.com.
