Sisters celebrating their graduation were killed by Audi driver speeding at 100mph
Sisters celebrating graduation were killed by an Audi driver speeding at 100mph. Thomas Lenthall, 40, has been jailed[1] for 10 years at Bristol Crown Court today (December 14) after pleading guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving[2]. Madison and Liberty North, known to their loved ones as Maddie and Libby, had been celebrating Maddie’s graduation when the fatal collision took place on July 25.
Lenthall was driving his Audi RS6 along the A361 Frome bypass, in Frome, when he careered into a VW Polo. Maddie and Libbie, aged 21 and 17, were travelling in the Polo and died at the scene of the crash. They had just popped out from their home to get some soft drinks ahead of a family graduation party.
Thomas Lenthall, 40, has been jailed for 10 years (Avon & Somerset Police / SWNS)
The two sisters were celebrating Maddie’s graduation (Avon & Somerset Police / SWNS)
Their parents, Verity and Jason North, issued a powerful victim statement to the court today, reports BristolLive[3].
They described the events as “every parent’s worst nightmare.” They said: “Maddie, her sister Libby and the whole family were so excited and proud she was graduating as a teacher, achieving her childhood dream. Family were invited, the party was arranged, everything felt perfect. “On the evening of the 25th, Maddie and Libby popped out for a Coke, and they never came home.
It is every parent’s worst nightmare – their lives were taken. Our innocent, precious daughters, at such young ages, were just beginning to live their best lives and fulfil their dreams. “In a heartbeat, everything changed.
They had been killed by the reckless dangerous driving of another.” Lenthall was taken to hospital with serious injuries and was later arrested and charged. At the time of the collision, he had been overtaking another car when he collided head on with Maddie’s car. Sentencing, His Honour Judge James Patrick said the world of the North family had fallen apart at their desperate loss.
He ordered that Lenthall should serve a minimum two-thirds of his sentence, and disqualified him from driving for seven years. Lead investigator from the Collision Investigation Unit, Carl Derosa, said: “This is a tragic case where two young ladies, with their whole lives ahead of them, were cruelly taken too soon from their parents and family. “The reckless actions of one man has left two parents without their children and a hole in their lives which no sentence will be able to fill.
I can only hope this sentence will go some way to providing justice for Maddie and Libby’s family.
“My team worked through the night to bring this case before the courts so quickly and we thank everyone for their support in making this sentence possible.
I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to Jason and Verity and I hope Lenthall understands the ramifications of his actions that day.”
References
- ^ jailed (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ dangerous driving (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ BristolLive (www.bristolpost.co.uk)