Driver caused death of teenager in A4 Wiltshire crash

Rosa Taylor, from Upholland in Lancashire, died at the scene of a crash between a Hyundai i10 and a Scania Tipper HGV on the A4 Bath Road at Corsham on Thursday, July 24 last year. Abbey Ridgway, of Oldbury Way in Skelmersdale, Lancashire, was driving the Hyundai at the time of the incident, and 19-year-old Rosa was a passenger alongside a male who was also seriously injured. The 26-year-old was charged with causing death by careless driving and appeared at Swindon Magistrates Court in March, 2025.

After the case was sent to Warrington Magistrates Court, she indicated a guilty plea. In May, Ridgway avoided jail for causing Rosa's death and was banned from driving for two years. Full access to all of our articles online and on the app, fewer adverts, a better reading experience, exclusive competitions and more - all for less than the price of a cup of coffee. ?Subscribe now! - https://t.co/AQ9XF2gcO2 pic.twitter.com/bYvsD2lw5e [1][2]

-- Gazette & Herald (@wiltsgazette) April 13, 2026 [3] She was also fined GBP199, slapped with a one-year community order, and must complete 200 hours of unpaid work. The crash at the junction of the A4 and the B3109 Bradford Road took place at around 1.30pm.

Rosa was killed on impact, police confirmed at the time. When the crash happened, the car had been travelling to Corsham Library, where Rosa was due to play the lead in The Beggars Belief Collective theatre group's production of SCRUMPTIOUS! She had been touring with the group in Wiltshire and was described by family as a "theatre kid from birth" who lived and breathed performing arts.

Rosa previously performed with multiple theatre companies, including the Liverpool Empire Youth Theatre in productions like Legally Blonde: The Musical. She also played lead roles at the Artz Centre in Skelmersdale before heading to LIPA to study musical theatre. Before her death, she secured her place at Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London and was due to start in September last year.

Tributes from across the country poured in for Rosa after her death and were led by her father Gareth Taylor. He said: "Anyone who knew Rosa would agree she was the most beautiful person inside and out. "She was the very definition of a spirit that shines brightly and dies young, loved by anyone who met her.

"She was at once the most talented, most beautiful, and loving soul I've ever known."

A fundraiser launched by Pick 'N' Mix Parties, a children's entertainment group Rosa was part of, raised thousands of pounds for her family in the aftermath of the crash.

Driver caused death of teenager in A4 Wiltshire crash

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