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To actually feel sorry for the woman driving the car in the Wimbledon car accident

994 replies

bagpuss90 · 06/07/2024 16:44

I’m sure I’ll be flamed here . I totally sympathise with the bereaved parents- I can’t stress that enough. I can understand them wanting justice . As we know the driver of the car suffered an epileptic seizure at the wheel - she had no history of epilepsy. I don’t see what she could have done differently. She has to live with what she did although it wasn’t her fault. AIBU to feel quite sorry for her ?

OP posts:
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LaurieFairyCake · 06/07/2024 19:27

Of course I feel sorry for her, it could literally happen to ANYONE

Imagine living every day knowing you killed 2 people and didn't remember it Sad

I couldn't imagine recovering

marigoldandrose · 06/07/2024 19:27

@maudelovesharold

"Yes, it is very ‘tough’ for the parents. I can’t blame them for wanting all the information available around how their children came to be killed. Perhaps they would have wanted to see the driver prosecuted so that her defence could be examined in court. If medical evidence was submitted (presumably by the defence) then she would have been exonerated. I don’t think the parents are wrong for not accepting the unchallenged decision that it was an accident."

I don't blame them either but I don't see how it's in the public interest to being the woman to trial when the prosecution obviously believe she'd have a clear defence and highly likely found not guilty.

maudelovesharold · 06/07/2024 19:24

marigoldandrose · 06/07/2024 19:09

@maudelovesharold well it would be tough cause you'd be extremely unlikely to be allowed to view medical evidence of a third party regardless of the circumstances

Yes, it is very ‘tough’ for the parents. I can’t blame them for wanting all the information available around how their children came to be killed. Perhaps they would have wanted to see the driver prosecuted so that her defence could be examined in court. If medical evidence was submitted (presumably by the defence) then she would have been exonerated. I don’t think the parents are wrong for not accepting the unchallenged decision that it was an accident.

marigoldandrose · 06/07/2024 19:24

@Sirine1708 seriously do you expect police to lay out every bit of evidence including private
medical info of the woman for the families to read over and pass judgment on?

Sirine1708 · 06/07/2024 19:23

Destiny123 · 06/07/2024 19:21

Anaesthetist. That's totally incorrect. Can start at any age. Often 1st presentation of brain tumours. Post stroke/brain injury etc etc

Feel sorry for all involved

I think the article was saying "epilepsy" so I was talking/thinking about this particular diagnosis, not any random seizure. Internet is still saying epilepsy is being diagnosed mostly before 20 or after 60.

Hesma · 06/07/2024 19:22

Tragic situation but not the lady’s fault. She did nothing wrong. I do feel for the grieving parents though as I’m sure she does herself

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 06/07/2024 19:22

Oh so do. It’s an absolute heart breaking tragedy and I understand that the parents want someone to be held to account. However there is no blame it was a tragic incident that could not have been foreseen. Had she known she had epilepsy and got behind the wheel then of course that would have been very very different.

marigoldandrose · 06/07/2024 19:22

@wagam

"'Zero understanding', 'not entitled'? Not exactly dripping with compassion are you?
Please explain to me how the driver's data privacy is more important than their daughters' lives? Not their fault if the Law is an ass. What the parents are 'entitled' to, surely, is to be at peace with the conclusions of the enquiry, wouldn't you say?"

It's nothing to do with compassion and you're the only one comparing the two

But I disagree with you, the horrific tragedy of their daughters death does not and should not entitle them to view medical data of third parties especially not without express consent

I also don't presume to think anything will bring the parents peace with the investigation because they want someone to pay for it, understandably however that's not how the law works in these circumstances.

Beyond that I disagree completely with the headteachers giving the interview they did

Destiny123 · 06/07/2024 19:21

Sirine1708 · 06/07/2024 17:11

I think it's a very convenient diagnosis - human brain is so complex, they can't prove she didn't have a seizure. Never heard of a person diagnosed with epilepsy at 40 though - I believe if you have it, it starts at the childhood.

This driver lives in a detached house in Wimbledon (worth millions in that area) and her car was not the cheapest one so apparently she could afford good lawyer and suitable diagnosis.

Edited

Anaesthetist. That's totally incorrect. Can start at any age. Often 1st presentation of brain tumours. Post stroke/brain injury etc etc

Feel sorry for all involved

Sirine1708 · 06/07/2024 19:20

wagram · 06/07/2024 19:18

'Zero understanding', 'not entitled'? Not exactly dripping with compassion are you?
Please explain to me how the driver's data privacy is more important than their daughters' lives? Not their fault if the Law is an ass. What the parents are 'entitled' to, surely, is to be at peace with the conclusions of the enquiry, wouldn't you say?

I was fuming after reading the recent article, parents were not provided with any evidence.

Thefaceofboe · 06/07/2024 19:19

Sirine1708 · 06/07/2024 17:11

I think it's a very convenient diagnosis - human brain is so complex, they can't prove she didn't have a seizure. Never heard of a person diagnosed with epilepsy at 40 though - I believe if you have it, it starts at the childhood.

This driver lives in a detached house in Wimbledon (worth millions in that area) and her car was not the cheapest one so apparently she could afford good lawyer and suitable diagnosis.

Edited

My dad has just been diagnosed with epilepsy and he’s 65…

wagram · 06/07/2024 19:18

marigoldandrose · 06/07/2024 18:45

Or they have zero understanding that they're not entitled to review evidence containing other people's special category personal data aka the medical info of the woman who caused the crash

'Zero understanding', 'not entitled'? Not exactly dripping with compassion are you?
Please explain to me how the driver's data privacy is more important than their daughters' lives? Not their fault if the Law is an ass. What the parents are 'entitled' to, surely, is to be at peace with the conclusions of the enquiry, wouldn't you say?

Sirine1708 · 06/07/2024 19:16

sommerjade · 06/07/2024 19:13

I have had epilepsy since I was 7.
EEGs only capture current seizures or show changes in brain electrical activity to certain stimuli at that point.

There is no evidence to be had for past seizures except witness statements from ppl who may have seen the seizure & circumstantial evidence such as injuries from having a seizure such as a bitten tongue, head injury etc. Also 'post ictal' confusion is a good indicator. But it depends whether the seizure was tonic clonic or only partial or petit mal as to the level of confusion there would be. There are dozens of types of epileptic seizures.

CT head scans are useful in that they can sometimes show which lobe(s) the epileptic seizures spread from. Or they can show possible causes of epilepsy such as brain damage, tumours etc.

Older people getting epilepsy out of the blue is a thing; many people actually get their first seizure in their 60s for no apparent reason.

Thanks for confirming, people just don't realize how easy it's to fake a past seizure.

OneTC · 06/07/2024 19:15

All it takes for her case is a doctor to say that she could have had a seizure and then it will be up to the prosecution to prove she hadn't. Which they can't. They wouldn't proceed with that

sommerjade · 06/07/2024 19:13

I have had epilepsy since I was 7.
EEGs only capture current seizures or show changes in brain electrical activity to certain stimuli at that point.

There is no evidence to be had for past seizures except witness statements from ppl who may have seen the seizure & circumstantial evidence such as injuries from having a seizure such as a bitten tongue, head injury etc. Also 'post ictal' confusion is a good indicator. But it depends whether the seizure was tonic clonic or only partial or petit mal as to the level of confusion there would be. There are dozens of types of epileptic seizures.

CT head scans are useful in that they can sometimes show which lobe(s) the epileptic seizures spread from. Or they can show possible causes of epilepsy such as brain damage, tumours etc.

Older people getting epilepsy out of the blue is a thing; many people actually get their first seizure in their 60s for no apparent reason.

Sirine1708 · 06/07/2024 19:12

I feel like those rumors about hired PR company are not entirely unfounded.

Zippedeedooda · 06/07/2024 19:10

HowIrresponsible · 06/07/2024 19:05

Are you lot seriously considering having money made her bribe police and she somehow bought them off?

There are truly horrible people and I don't mean the driver.

Or maybe just a lot of people who want a detached house in Wimbledon.

socialdilemmawhattodo · 06/07/2024 19:10

LittleGreenDuck · 06/07/2024 17:32

You're talking shit. My ex had his first and last seizure at 27. He didn't have any more because the first one killed him.

The value of her house is utterly irrelevant. Would you be more willing to believe the outcome if she was a single mum on benefits, from a council estate.

I had a close friend who lost a relative at 21 due to an epileptic fit. Had recently been diagnosed and the hospital and GP surgery were sorting out the right levels of medication. Sadly not in time. She left a young child. Apparently at that time epilepsy was the largest single cause of death in under-25's. I had no idea.

Also had a friend at uni who had a fit. One-off - never again. But she didnt drive for years after just in case. She was told stress over exams, tiredness, alcohol were probably all factors.

multimillionaire · 06/07/2024 19:10

You know upstanding member of society just is a fancy way of saying a good person?

You have no idea if she is a "good person" or not, not having a criminal record doesnt automatically make you a "good" or a responsible person. It just means you haven't been caught doing anything "bad" is all.

marigoldandrose · 06/07/2024 19:09

@maudelovesharold well it would be tough cause you'd be extremely unlikely to be allowed to view medical evidence of a third party regardless of the circumstances

Sirine1708 · 06/07/2024 19:09

KnittingKnewbie · 06/07/2024 19:07

Exactly.
There were 4 possible reasons

  1. deliberate attack NO
  2. negligence/dangerous driving NO
  3. accident due to medical event
  4. mechanical failure NO

A family member of mine had a seizure out of the blue aged mid 30s, not while driving thankfully, but if they had been, a similar situation is likely

Why are you so convinced about #2?

maudelovesharold · 06/07/2024 19:09

HowIrresponsible · 06/07/2024 19:03

So you'd rather believe that a woman with no history of criminal offences who is an upstanding member of society just decided to drive at your kid for shits and giggles and risk killing themselves too?

Such a weird attitude.

No, obviously not. Such a weird comment. Haven’t you heard of dangerous driving, driving without due care and attention, speeding…?

KnittingKnewbie · 06/07/2024 19:09

wizbit93 · 06/07/2024 19:03

Who is to say she didn't have more than one at the time/soon after? Earlier in the year I had three at home within an hour and then a further two in hospital. This may have been the case with her and that might be why she has now been diagnosed with epilepsy.

Yes, further to my point above, when the medics arrived, family member had another seizure and potentially a 3rd one in hospital, I can't remember.
So that would be evidence

Zippedeedooda · 06/07/2024 19:08

Daffodilsandbagels · 06/07/2024 19:01

If she had been driving a Nissan micra, the chances of her killing two little girls would have been much, much lower. (SUVs are actually 8x more likely to kill children than smaller cars.) We really need a movement against urban SUVs - they should be taxed and licensed out of existence in cities. They kill children and they are killing the planet - and for what? So people can drive ridiculous status symbols around.

Why just cities. Is everyone outside cities irrelevant.

If we re banning large cars to save lives we’ll need to ban all vans, trucks, articulated lorries. Farm machinery from using the roads. Construction machinery from using the roads etc etc. Ambulances
Anyone driving these large vehicles can suddenly have a siezure and kill others

Katkins17 · 06/07/2024 19:07

Sirine1708 · 06/07/2024 17:11

I think it's a very convenient diagnosis - human brain is so complex, they can't prove she didn't have a seizure. Never heard of a person diagnosed with epilepsy at 40 though - I believe if you have it, it starts at the childhood.

This driver lives in a detached house in Wimbledon (worth millions in that area) and her car was not the cheapest one so apparently she could afford good lawyer and suitable diagnosis.

Edited

This just isn't true.
My partner had his first seizure, out of the blue, at 50.
A lot of things can cause this...it was found he had intercranial hypertension which put pressure on his brain and eyes. He had no previous symptoms.

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