M25 fatal lorry crash driver to appeal against sentence

Ethan Burdett, 67, was sentenced to three years in prison on July 4 last year after admitting four counts of causing death by dangerous driving at Chelmsford Crown Court. The lorry driver has now lodged an appeal in relation to the 2021 crash, which saw his lorry smash into the back of a minibus returning to London after a day trip to Southend. Victims - Jennifer Smith, Lisa Gardiner, Dexter Augustus and Abigael Muamba (left to right, top to bottom (Image: Essex Police) Burdett had been driving a lorry between the M25's junction's 27 and 26 on August 23, 2021, when he failed to react to queueing traffic and crashed into the back of the minibus.[1]

Jennifer Smith, 59, Abigael Muamba, 31 and Dexter Augustus, 60, died at the scene, while Lisa Gardiner, 44, died later from her injuries. The sister of Jennifer Smith, Deborah Douglas, has now said that the decision by Burdett to appeal his sentence will devastate all of the casualties' families. Jailed - Ethan Burdett was sentenced to three years in prison (Image: Essex Police)"He took four lives that day -and four families were devastated - and a measly sentence of three years - he just couldn't do that, that is so upsetting," she told the BBC.

"We know that no sentence he gets will ever bring our Jen back but it all the more cuts deeper when we have to go through these processes again and face these failings again". Burdett was jailed for three years and banned from driving for four-and-a-half years after admitting to four counts of causing death by careless driving.[2] A spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service said: "Our most sincere condolences remain with the families of Dexter Augustus, Lisa Gardiner, Abigael Muamba and Jennifer Smith.

"Our decision to accept a guilty plea to causing death by careless driving was made after important CCTV evidence showed the lorry driver's view may have been obstructed for some of the time prior to the collision. "Following this, we wrote to the families of each of the victims explaining our decision and offering a meeting with senior lawyers. We also ensured we closely scrutinised our handling of the case at a local level.

"While sentencing is a matter for the courts, we continue to offer our support to the families affected by this tragic case."

References

1. ^ Burdett had been driving a lorry between the M25's junction's 27 and 26 on August 23, 2021, when he failed to react to queueing traffic and crashed into the back of the minibus. (www.echo-news.co.uk)
2. ^ Burdett was jailed for three years and banned from driving for four-and-a-half years after admitting to four counts of causing death by careless driving. (www.echo-news.co.uk)