Teen’s ‘insult’ to family as she parties hard after killing two friends in crash

A woman went skiing and partied "repeatedly" after her vehicle crashed into a tree - resulting in the deaths of two teenagers. Madeleine Lonsdale had been travelling at 100mph along a carriageway in Marston, Lincolnshire, whilst racing another vehicle in June last year. The 18 year old subsequently collided with a tree, killing passengers Harrison Carter, 18, and George Stephenson, 17.

Lonsdale regularly posted content to TikTok following the fatalities, and her initial court hearing was postponed for a fortnight because she had gone on a skiing holiday. She was today sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court to 14 months' imprisonment and disqualified from driving for three and a half years. On Friday, June 20, 2025, Lonsdale was driving towards Marston from the A1 at approximately 1.40am when the Kia Niro 4 EV she was operating left the carriageway, striking a tree on a right-hand bend.

Harrison, 18, who was seated in the passenger seat, and George, 17, who was sitting in the rear, tragically died at the scene from their injuries, reports the Mirror[1]. Lonsdale had been out with companions when she stopped at the Esso petrol station on the junction of the A1 and Toll Bar Road. After purchasing some items, they returned to the car and then turned left onto Toll Bar Road towards Marston, before a short time later she lost control and struck a tree.

Investigators discovered that Lonsdale had been travelling at more than 75mph when she misjudged a corner on the 60mph road just four seconds prior to the crash.

Her car had veered onto the nearside verge before striking the tree. Lonsdale, who had passed her driving test approximately 12 weeks before the incident, sustained only a minor wrist injury. During a police interview, the teenager stated she was familiar with the road and believed she had been travelling at roughly 45mph.

She was also unable to account for why her wheels had left the carriageway. The investigation determined that Lonsdale's driving, speed and lack of experience were to blame for the collision. Harry's mother, Sarah Carter, said it "adds insult to injury" that Lonsdale was "partying repeatedly" and "choreographing TikToks" whilst she arranged her son's funeral.

Referring to Harry's ambition to pursue a legal career, she said: "Harry was taken from us because Madeleine chose to speed. He will never be able to celebrate the amazing exam results that he achieved."

Victoria Stephenson, George's mother, told the court: "We will never see him graduate or find a job after university. We didn't get to celebrate his 18th birthday with him.

Instead, we had his funeral." She stated that when Lonsdale's skiing holiday postponed her initial court appearance by a fortnight, it "only added to the torment". In a joint statement, the families of George and Harrison expressed: "We recognise the sentence of the court, but the reality is that no sentence will ever bring our beloved sons back to us.

Madeleine alone knows why she chose to drive at over 75mph in the dark on an unlit country lane. She will have to live with the fact that she is responsible for taking the lives of our boys, who had placed their trust in her to get them to their destination safely. "As parents, we therefore implore all young drivers to take care when driving and to remember their personal responsibility for ensuring the safety of themselves, their passengers and others around them.

Whilst we now wish for privacy after a long and difficult journey, we just hope that others never have to face the despair that is ahead of us."

John McNally, defending Lonsdale, stated: "She knows that there is nothing she can say, do, to take the pain away. She knows it will weigh heavily on her for the rest of her life.

Her regret for what happened is deep and [...] her friends will remain, and are, in her thoughts." Detective Sergeant Adam Doona, from our Serious Collision Investigation Unit, commented: "This collision was down to the speed and inexperience of Madeleine Lonsdale. Tragically, as a result of her driving, friends who should have been celebrating starting the next stage of their lives are no longer with us.

"When someone obtains their full driving licence, they need to remember that this is purely the start of their driving career.

A lack of experience and failing to drive according to the rules of the road in this case, will leave an indelible mark on all those involved for the rest of their lives."

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References

1. ^ the Mirror (www.mirror.co.uk)
2. ^ signing up to our newsletter here. (www.examinerlive.co.uk)