A WARRINGTON mother who was high on cocaine and over the drink-drive limit caused a serious head-on collision while driving with her two young sons in the car—one of whom was placed in an induced coma following multiple traumatic injuries.
Bridie Trotter, 36, of Scott Street, Warrington, veered into oncoming traffic on Birchwood Way at around 9.30pm on August 30, 2023. Her black Honda Jazz collided head-on with a Skoda Roomster carrying a 36-weeks pregnant woman, her partner, and their two children.
She tested positive for cocaine, and a blood test taken six hours after the crash showed 137mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood — the legal limit being 80mg. She later pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, as well as offences of drink and drug driving.
She appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on July 18, where she wept in the dock as the full details of the incident were read out.
Prosecutor Eve Salter said the victims—Ellie Wright, 26, her partner Diogo Lopez, 27, and their children, aged eight and six—were driving in the opposite direction when Trotter’s vehicle suddenly swerved into their lane.
“The victim didn’t see the defendant’s car speeding, but recalls it suddenly turning into her lane, causing a head-on collision,” said Ms Salter.
“Following the collision, Mr Lopez got his children out the back of the car and returned to help Ms Wright, who was stuck. She seemed in pain and was, at the time, 36 weeks pregnant.”
Trotter’s five-year-old son was seriously injured, sustaining a fractured collarbone, fractured pelvis, scalp wounds, a broken nose, and a degloving injury to his mouth. He was treated at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and placed in an induced coma until September 3. He was discharged on September 10. Her four-year-old son, believed not to have been wearing a seatbelt, also suffered bruising.
Ms Wright sustained a cut to her leg, bruising, and a cut to her mouth. She feared for the safety of her unborn baby, who was ultimately born healthy. Mr Lopez suffered bruising and trapped air in his lungs, which required hospital treatment. The couple’s children also sustained bruising and seatbelt burns.
Trotter had to be extracted from her vehicle by fire crews. A blood sample taken six hours later showed 137mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood—well above the legal limit of 80mg. She also tested positive for cocaine.
Her defence barrister, Carmel Wild, told the court Trotter was remorseful and had been struggling with mental health issues and a history of domestic violence, which had led to substance misuse.
“She is of previous good character, is somebody who had a family, and was working for her family’s tyre business,” Ms Wild said.
“She feels so bad that the victims will think bad of her and her actions – quite rightly. The defendant states ‘I have changed everyone’s lives forever’. She acknowledges that it is her fault. (She says) ‘I’m so sorry, that’s not me, I’m not like that usually, but it was me’.”
The court heard she had been engaging with support services, including Change Grow Live and Narcotics Anonymous, since the crash.
Judge Stuart Driver KC sentenced Trotter to 27 months in prison for causing serious injury by dangerous driving. She also received concurrent three-month sentences for drink and drug driving offences. Trotter was banned from driving for four years and 13.5 months and must take an extended retest before driving again.
Judge Driver said:
“You were in charge of your two children while intoxicated with alcohol and cocaine. You put the two children into the car and drove them onto a road with a 50MPH speed limit. Coming in the opposite direction was a car driven by Ellie Wright, who was 36 weeks pregnant. Her passengers were her two children, eight and six, and her partner.”“For an unknown reason you turned across the lane, causing a high-speed collision… All seven people in the cars suffered some injury. Only one person suffered serious injuries and that was your five-year-old son.”
He added:
“Ellie Wright was 36 weeks pregnant and her multiple injuries included bruising to what she called her baby bump. She was in hospital four days and was clearly in a very worrying situation… Thankfully, her baby was born.”“Since the incident you have made efforts to rehabilitate yourself… It’s also right to point out you are not a danger to the public.”
This article is based in part on original reporting by the Liverpool Echo. You can read their full report here.
