A 20-year-old local man has entered a plea of not guilty at Swindon Crown Court to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving following a crash that fatally injured a 16-year-old passenger last summer.
Court appearance and next steps
Richard Robinson, of Birch Road in Kingswood, appeared before the court on Thursday, 23 July, accused over the collision in a Renault Clio on the evening of 29 August 2024. After denying the charge, he was granted bail. The case is listed for trial to begin on 18 January 2027.
Where and how the crash unfolded
Police were called to a single-vehicle collision at about 9.45pm at the junction with Withy Bed Crossroads, near Bushton — around 10 miles south of Swindon. The road remained closed for more than 12 hours while officers carried out a collision investigation.
An 18-year-old man, thought to have been driving the car at the time, was initially arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving but was not charged.
Community and family impact
The passenger who died was identified as Toya Jefferies, a 16-year-old pupil at Royal Wootton Bassett Academy and a resident of Royal Wootton Bassett. Her family paid tribute to her following the tragedy.
"She was a 'beautiful, amazing daughter'... a 'little firecracker' who 'touched everyone’s hearts'."
Her funeral in October 2024 drew a visible show of support from the local community; many attending dressed in Toya’s favourite colour, blue, as a mark of remembrance.
- Defendant: Richard Robinson, 20, Birch Road, Kingswood
- Victim: Toya Jefferies, 16, Royal Wootton Bassett
- Incident: Single-vehicle crash, Renault Clio
- Location: Near Withy Bed Crossroads, Bushton
- Trial date: 18 January 2027
What this means locally
The case will be followed closely in the community around Royal Wootton Bassett and Swindon, both because of the age of the girl involved and the length of time since the collision. The initial lengthy road closure underlined the seriousness of the investigation and the disruption to local routes.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Time of crash | About 9.45pm, 29 August 2024 |
| Road | Junction with Withy Bed Crossroads, near Bushton |
| Police action | Collision investigation; road closed for over 12 hours |
As proceedings move towards next year's trial, the court will consider evidence presented by the Crown Prosecution Service and defence. For local residents affected by the incident or anyone with information that may assist inquiries, Wiltshire Police remains the point of contact.
This report will be updated as the court case progresses and further official statements are released.
