A driver who was disqualified from the road has been jailed after a collision in Cotesbach that claimed the life of an 18-year-old woman and left others with serious injuries, Leicestershire Police have said.
Details of the collision and victims' injuries
Police statements confirm the woman who died was a passenger in a vehicle driven by the offender, identified in court reports as Reape. His twin sister, Abigale Pearson, was seated in the back of the same car and suffered life-threatening injuries, including internal bleeding and a fractured collarbone. Reape himself sustained serious injuries and required several weeks in hospital. Two other passengers in his vehicle were recorded as having minor injuries.
The car driven by Reape struck a Mercedes CLK. Two occupants of that vehicle suffered serious, life-changing injuries that continue to affect their mobility, the force said.
| Person | Injury status |
|---|---|
| 18-year-old woman | Deceased |
| Abigale Pearson (back seat) | Life-threatening injuries (internal bleeding, fractured collarbone) |
| Reape (driver) | Serious injuries; several weeks in hospital |
| Two other passengers (same car) | Minor injuries |
| Two people in Mercedes CLK | Serious, mobility-affecting injuries |
Driver was disqualified and held only an expired provisional licence
Officers said Reape should not have been driving at all. At the time of the crash he was disqualified from driving and possessed only an expired provisional licence. The force has described the collision as a "deeply tragic incident" with a wide and continuing impact.
"Reape should never have been behind the wheel. He was disqualified from driving and held only an expired provisional licence,"
"His actions resulted in the death of an 18-year-old woman who had her whole life ahead of her and left several others with serious injuries.
"Abigale not only suffered physical injuries but has also had to endure the unimaginable loss of her twin sister. Our thoughts remain with her and the rest of the family."
Local impact and wider concerns
The sentencing follows an incident that has left several families grieving or coping with long-term harm. Beyond the personal tragedy, the case raises questions about enforcement of driving disqualifications and the mechanisms that allow someone without a valid licence to be behind the wheel.
- One passenger died and several others suffered injuries ranging from minor to life-threatening.
- The driver was disqualified and had an expired provisional licence at the time of the collision.
- Victims in the other vehicle were left with serious injuries affecting mobility.
Police continue to support those affected and have reiterated the serious consequences of driving while disqualified. The case will also be of interest to local road-safety campaigners and community leaders seeking to prevent similar tragedies in future.
Further details on the length of the jail term handed down were not included in the force's initial statement.
Information about victim support services and counselling is available via Leicestershire Police and local charitable organisations for anyone affected by the incident.
