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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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18
letsgoooo · 08/07/2024 14:12

OneTC · 06/07/2024 18:02

She's fairly far down my list in terms of sympathy if I'm perfectly honest.

Most of us have more than enough capacity for multiple beneficiaries of sympathy.

Sirine1708 · 08/07/2024 14:17

letsgoooo · 08/07/2024 14:06

@Sirine1708

I think that's why the parents are upset with the ruling - they are simply not convinced.
Good grief you keep digging don't you.

The parents have said that they are NOT saying she didn't have a seizure. They are saying that their team wasn't given the opportunity to see lots of the evidence and until they do they cant rest.
They just want their team to be able to review.

If this is what 'you think' maybe stop thinking as your thinking is terrible.

That's literally what "not convinced" means.

Rosscameasdoody · 08/07/2024 14:19

letsgoooo · 08/07/2024 14:11

Slamming a child's body between any car and a wall is going to produce fatalities

Someone above mentioned a fiesta going through a house.

Yep. Been discussed ad nauseam, but still it continues. Fairly disgusting that people are using a tragic incident like this as a soapbox, not only against SUV’s, but to vent about the wealthy privileged white women who drive them when there’s no need. I live opposite a school - it’s by no means an affluent area but at school pick up and drop off the number of mums who turn up driving exactly that type of vehicle is significant. There’s a lot of crap talked on this thread, as well as a lot of hypocrisy.

Sirine1708 · 08/07/2024 14:21

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

BlanketAnnouncement · 08/07/2024 14:23

Well, at the time of writing this post 93% of the 2104 people who’ve voted think it’s NOT unreasonable to have sympathy with the driver. That’s a lot of sock accounts someone’s been busy making….

letsgoooo · 08/07/2024 14:24

@Sirine1708

What % of people with seizures not caused by tumors, bleedings or other health isues that can be named will have the first seizure between 20 and 60?
I couldn't find the data, just most articles mention onset either before 20 or after 60.

But I think this % would be much smaller then % of people like her that can afford good advocates.

I don't understand why people don't even try to compare both probabilities and see the obvious
It's like you've decided something and nothing is going to Jaye you question your view. Even when your view is so flawed.

Just a small sample set of this thread has multiple people knowing someone with late onset epilepsy.

It's not that rare. But even if it was, it is irrelevant. She has been diagnosed with epilepsy. Thus means she must have had at least one more subsequent seizure.

There was a year long investigation. Why are you so determined to believe that medical experts conspired with a legal team to falsify a condition. Do you regularly fear conspiracy theories? Perhaps you ought to seek help with that issue.

Truth is, nothing anyone says in here is going to go into your head. Even though you WRONGLY thought adults don't develop epilepsy and even though the chances of some wide spread conspiracy is clearly very very unlikely, you are going to cling to your theories.

Adult onset epilepsy is real

You aren't diagnosed with epilepsy until you have had repeated seizures so she must have had follow up seizures

Professional medics are very unlikely to fabricate a condition that would see them struck off.

To actually feel sorry for the woman driving the car in the Wimbledon car accident
To actually feel sorry for the woman driving the car in the Wimbledon car accident
To actually feel sorry for the woman driving the car in the Wimbledon car accident
CelesteCunningham · 08/07/2024 14:25

MaturingCheeseball · 08/07/2024 14:01

@Rosscameasdoody - excuse me? I should stop ? Because you’ve ordered me to?

Not once have I suggested retribution. My position is decency and that is what many on here seem to lack. Of course the woman can legally drive when allowed, but are you honestly saying that if you spotted someone who had killed your child - albeit accidentally - driving along you wouldn’t feel upset and outraged?

The parents have lost their children - they will feel upset and outraged, of course they will. At the woman driving again should she choose, but also at the smallest little thing. I haven't lost a child, but when my best friend died in her 20s I remember feeling furious that a colleague was upset her dog died.

There is a reason judges and juries decide on guilt and punishment, and not bereaved family members.

letsgoooo · 08/07/2024 14:27

Zwellers · 06/07/2024 18:19

This thread would have gone a very different way if the driver was non white, male, or a lower socio ecomic class.

Not really. There is a nut on here who is convinced that because the woman is well off then obviously she paid off medics.

That couldn't have happened if the person had been poor.

N, the point is ANYONE could have suffered this. So rational people think 'there but for the grace of God go I'.

Weird people think 'oooooo it's a conspiracy'

Rosscameasdoody · 08/07/2024 14:28

CammyChameleon · 08/07/2024 13:59

I know what the law is, I'm saying I disagree with the law. I believe I am allowed to do that, so long as I don't take some sort of vigilante action or encourage others to do so?

I am not questioning the integrity of all epileptic people, I am pointing out that the ones who regain their license are incentivised to lie about having another seizure in order to keep their license.

That is not the same thing as saying that they definitely will lie if they have another seizure, I'm sure many don't.

You’re allowed to say you disagree, but you’re not allowed to couch it in such ignorant and ableist terms. Incentivised to lie to retain their licences ? Is that what you really think ? Because if so, then yes, you are questioning the integrity of all epileptic people who drive after a seizure. If that’s not ableist and discriminatory I don’t know what is.

Sirine1708 · 08/07/2024 14:29

@letsgoooo
There was a year long investigation. Why are you so determined to believe that medical experts conspired with a legal team to falsify a condition.

I said nothing about medical experts. Why are so set to attribute this dirt to me? Calm down, your posts say more about you.

pam290358 · 08/07/2024 14:29

letsgoooo · 08/07/2024 14:27

Not really. There is a nut on here who is convinced that because the woman is well off then obviously she paid off medics.

That couldn't have happened if the person had been poor.

N, the point is ANYONE could have suffered this. So rational people think 'there but for the grace of God go I'.

Weird people think 'oooooo it's a conspiracy'

Well said. Just add in the morally outraged brigade who think justice and retribution are the same thing, and it about sums up the tone of the thread in a nutshell !!

Sirine1708 · 08/07/2024 14:32

pam290358 · 08/07/2024 14:29

Well said. Just add in the morally outraged brigade who think justice and retribution are the same thing, and it about sums up the tone of the thread in a nutshell !!

Edited

Again, you are trying to smear people who don't support your agenda.

letsgoooo · 08/07/2024 14:34

DogsDinner · 06/07/2024 18:21

If it was my child I wouldn't let it go easily either. I'd want to know the police had explored every possibility, not just taken the driver's word that she'd had a seizure.

It will not have been the drivers word.

The driver has been diagnosed with epilepsy. That means in the year the investigation has taken she must have had further seizures.

You can't be diagnosed after a single seizure. So she must have had more.

There are many ways to determine if some has epilepsy.

Some tests show activity in the brain. Some show damage or malformations seen in people with epilepsy. Some show activity to suggest another seizure is likely. Lots of tests. Some are useful in one case but not another. Other tests show conclusive evidence. They don't just take witness reports that someone had a seizure

epilepsyfoundation.org.au/understanding-epilepsy/diagnosing-epilepsy/testing-and-investigation/#:~:text=People%20sometimes%20think%20that%20imaging,that%20the%20person%20has%20epilepsy.

To actually feel sorry for the woman driving the car in the Wimbledon car accident
To actually feel sorry for the woman driving the car in the Wimbledon car accident
letsgoooo · 08/07/2024 14:36

@TheWayTheLightFalls

There are also suggestions (unverified, mind) that the driver has hired a PR firm for reputation management. Which combined with hiring the sort of law firm which normally represents some very high profile people, gives me the sense of someone throwing their wealth at creating a certain impression.
Fantastic. Now you are using unverified gossip and using it to back up an entire theory about someone. Amazing how some people think.

letsgoooo · 08/07/2024 14:37

cottonpoly · 06/07/2024 18:28

I saw some of the senior staff from this school being interviewed on TV about this and they were extremely unhappy with the whole police investigation and the decision to take no further action. One of the staff had comforted one of the girls as she lay dying.

And the relevance is?

Some school staff, one of which cradled a dying child, with no access to the investigation decided they were not happy with the outcome.

This is a useless bit of noise.

letsgoooo · 08/07/2024 14:39

geumsandpeonies · 06/07/2024 18:35

Rumour is that husband is a fierce lawyer and that the police got scared.

Im a bit flummoxed as to why pple would automatically trust the police and CPS on this while being highly critical about how they handle sexual harassment and rape cases.

there are some massive biases in how police and CPS view things, IMO, and I think they are highly biased towards harassers and drivers.

Because you would have to believe that a whole team of medics would risk being stuck off for falsifying a condition.

Not exactly likely is it

letsgoooo · 08/07/2024 14:40

LizzieBennett73 · 06/07/2024 18:35

It's also worth remembering that the people who are questioning the investigation were likely to have been there on the day. They witnessed this incident unlike the Police did.

I think at best it's a convenient diagnosis. My only hope is that this lady never gets behind the wheel of another car. That would be a massive insult to the memories of both children and their families.

Yes they witnessed a car smashing into children. They didn't witness anything of any medical value. Had they we would have known by now. It would have been broadcast all over the daily mail and mumsnet

EllisEllisBoom · 08/07/2024 14:40

The previous thread on this was removed. I hope this one will be too.
1 in 25 people will have an unprovoked seizure in their lifetime, it could be any of you, at any time. 633,000 people in the UK have epilepsy. Many will hold driving licenses, once they have been seizure free for 12mths, their seizure risk is no greater than you or I.
My son has epilepsy, it breaks my heart to think he will have to deal with people who hold such ignorant uniformed views, demonstrated by some of the people on this thread.

Rosscameasdoody · 08/07/2024 14:40

letsgoooo · 08/07/2024 14:24

@Sirine1708

What % of people with seizures not caused by tumors, bleedings or other health isues that can be named will have the first seizure between 20 and 60?
I couldn't find the data, just most articles mention onset either before 20 or after 60.

But I think this % would be much smaller then % of people like her that can afford good advocates.

I don't understand why people don't even try to compare both probabilities and see the obvious
It's like you've decided something and nothing is going to Jaye you question your view. Even when your view is so flawed.

Just a small sample set of this thread has multiple people knowing someone with late onset epilepsy.

It's not that rare. But even if it was, it is irrelevant. She has been diagnosed with epilepsy. Thus means she must have had at least one more subsequent seizure.

There was a year long investigation. Why are you so determined to believe that medical experts conspired with a legal team to falsify a condition. Do you regularly fear conspiracy theories? Perhaps you ought to seek help with that issue.

Truth is, nothing anyone says in here is going to go into your head. Even though you WRONGLY thought adults don't develop epilepsy and even though the chances of some wide spread conspiracy is clearly very very unlikely, you are going to cling to your theories.

Adult onset epilepsy is real

You aren't diagnosed with epilepsy until you have had repeated seizures so she must have had follow up seizures

Professional medics are very unlikely to fabricate a condition that would see them struck off.

Yep. My mum had a single seizure and to date has never had another. She was diagnosed with epileptiform seizure condition and placed on quite strong anti convulsant medication. When I questioned this on the basis of one seizure I was told that such a diagnosis isn’t normally made or treatment started, until at least two seizures, at least 24 hours apart have taken place. Unless, that is, there is evidence of a seizure in test results, which there was in her case. An EEG confirmed raised results consistent with recent seizure and a blood test showed an elevated immune response, so this confirmed the diagnosis. So in the drivers’ case it’s possible that one or more repeat seizures after the crash have confirmed the diagnosis, or that testing at the time was able to confirm the physical responses consistent with seizure. We won’t know until the inquest verdict is made public, and then I suspect some on here will be eating their words.

ThePerkyDuck · 08/07/2024 14:41

letsgoooo · 08/07/2024 14:06

@Sirine1708

I think that's why the parents are upset with the ruling - they are simply not convinced.
Good grief you keep digging don't you.

The parents have said that they are NOT saying she didn't have a seizure. They are saying that their team wasn't given the opportunity to see lots of the evidence and until they do they cant rest.
They just want their team to be able to review.

If this is what 'you think' maybe stop thinking as your thinking is terrible.

What? Please send me the link where the parents say quote from you “they are NOT saying she didn't have a seizure. They are saying that their team wasn't given the opportunity to see lots of the evidence and until they do they cant rest” . That’s pure speculation on your part.

letsgoooo · 08/07/2024 14:41

BobbyBiscuits · 06/07/2024 18:39

I do but she didn't receive a strong enough punishment. They said she had an epileptic seizure, but she's never had one before? So it can't be diagnosed as epilepsy. Alcohol withdrawal? I don't know. But it's just horrendous.

She's been diagnosed with epilepsy which means in the year long investigation she has suffered more seizures.

EllisEllisBoom · 08/07/2024 14:43

Rumour is that husband is a fierce lawyer and that the police got scared.

Her husband works in finance. Just stop this crap rumour spreading. The previous thread went as far as to post pics of the driver's bathroom interior design. There are no winners, the whole situation is awful.

letsgoooo · 08/07/2024 14:44

@ThePerkyDuck

What? Please send me the link where the parents say quote from you “they are NOT saying she didn't have a seizure. They are saying that their team wasn't given the opportunity to see lots of the evidence and until they do they cant rest” . That’s pure speculation on your part.
Huh? No it's not. They were interviewed on the news when the verdict first came out. Not my fault you didn't see it but that doesn't make me a liar ffs.
Done people in here are beyond belief.
Go search online. It'll probably be online somewhere. It was on BBC news so hardly a big hush secret.
Donut.

letsgoooo · 08/07/2024 14:47

@Sirine1708

I said nothing about medical experts. Why are so set to attribute this dirt to me? Calm down, your posts say more about you.
Oh hush. You've come on here accusing a woman Of lying, of throwing money about to buy a verdict. You have quite appallingly broadcast a view that she is guilty of getting off a crime Scot free by being wealthy and yet try to suggest others are trying to dish dirt.

Stop being obtuse. Its quite ridiculous

pam290358 · 08/07/2024 14:49

Sirine1708 · 08/07/2024 14:32

Again, you are trying to smear people who don't support your agenda.

I’m not ‘smearing people’ I haven’t got an agenda and I’m not a conspiracy theorist. I’m simply pointing out that there is a lot of ignorant crap being spouted on this thread by people who clearly know nothing about seizure inducing conditions or how they are diagnosed, and who are not privy to the information the police or other authorities have, but still feel qualified to brand the driver as a fraudster and a liar. You only have to scroll back through the thread to see posts which have absolutely no basis in even the facts we have so far.