The driver in the Wimbledon school accident won't be charged?

[RiverF]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw4448xx4keo

It sounds like a unavoidable and unforeseeable medical incident led to the tragedy, but the families wanted justice.

I can't begin to imagine their pain, but this is the right decision?

It's so heartbreaking for those girls' families. The only way I can see the woman facing charges is if she was driving against medical advice; I thought people with epilepsy couldn't drive. But I assume they've done investigations and found that she was cleared to drive.

They want ‘justice’ but there is no justice to be had as there was no crime or premeditation. Literally nobody wanted this to happen.
What they actually want is a way to channel their pain, but there is no way. Only time will ease it. Throwing someone in jail for having an epileptic seizure would resolve nothing (and would make any decent person feel like a dick for wanting it).

It could have been her first seizure. We don't know. No one could have predicted it. It's a horribly tragic accident.

It was the first seizure she’d ever had. She had no idea she had epilepsy (if that’s what it turned out to be)

She had never had a seizure before and had no reason to think she might. She had a totally clear medical record and no prior symptoms. This is a tragedy but there is no suggestion she did anything wrong.

Sometimes, things happen that are not anyone's fault. It's terribly sad but the families need to accept that this was an accident and no one is to blame.

It was her first ever epileptic seizure wasn't it? Just so very sad, I feel so very much for everyone involved but she wasn't driving against advice, it was just a tragic accident and no she should very much not be charged.

If the article is accurate, the driver suffered an epileptic seizure - without warning or history of epilepsy. What could she have done differently? There was no criminal behaviour. This was a tragic accident.

Absolutely the right decision, there is no crime to prosecute. Just a horrible tragedy.

Gosh that’s scary! Yes it really really sad but it’s one of those things, very unfortunate set of circumstances.

Why is it only now that it’s being reported the driver had an epileptic fit at the time of the crash. Up till now, I’ve just presumed dangerous driving. The driver is probably already living a life with extreme guilt and her life will never be the same. Such a sad situation all round.

There's some further detail here www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/jun/26/wimbledon-school-crash-driver-will-not-face-prosecution-says-cps

As @RiverF says the driver didn't have diagnosed epilepsy at the time and a clear medical record so they would have no reason to believe they could not or should not drive.

It is all very very sad but based on these articles it is an utterly tragic accident which could not have been predicted or prevented.

Of course it was the right decision. Not even a debate.

Horrific thing to have happened, but sometimes things are no one’s fault.

Heartbreaking for the parents and the driver but it was an accident. There’s no justice to be had. The only thing the driver is guilty of is not predicting she would randomly have a seizure whilst driving.

The parents need to grieve in private now.

It was her first seizure, she had nothing in her medical record to suggest driving was a risk

Yes it is.

Given she had never had a seizure before and was in good health, what can she be charged with?

Having a 100% unforeseen and blameless medical emergency?

Driving a legal vehicle?

Having a tragic accident?

I can't pretend to understand the horrific pain the parents are suffering. It's a parent's worst nightmare. But their pain and grief is causing them to need someone to blame and there isn't anyone.

She’s already got a life sentence hasn’t she :(

Of course it was the right decision. Not even a debate.

If it was so clear cut, why has it taken a year to come to this conclusion? That's the bit I find odd

I’ve seen that now. When I read the article in the BBC app I stopped scrolling after a photo which I thought was the end of the article so didn’t see the continuation where it was explained it was the first.

But you’ve answered your own question, if she didn’t know then surely she couldn’t have been charged.

CPS delays?

I had no idea that epilepsy could occur at any time in life! I thought it was something you were born with. Poor people.

I assume to carry out their investigation? If it was her first seizure, they couldn’t know it was due to epilepsy. Perhaps she has since had subsequent seizures so it’s become more clear. I wonder if she is still driving.

How do they know she had an epileptic fit?

It’s absolutely the right decision not to prosecute, provided that the evidence has been assessed appropriately.

That was my only thought reading the articles - that “police officers” have reviewed the medical files and notes and thoroughly investigated the driver’s medical history. But they’re not medical professionals and I would have hoped that a forensic physician has also carefully reviewed every aspect of the driver’s medical history.

from some reporting I’ve read, that is the angle from the grieving families ; that they want assurance that the evidence has been scrutinised to the highest standard.

if the driver had been ignoring neurological symptoms or had been advised not to drive while undergoing investigations that could give rise to a cause of action. I have to say I have some sympathy for the grieving families wanting the utmost assurance that the police have conducted the investigation with due rigor.

Yes, this. The parents will never get over what happened that day, neither will the driver.