Newly licensed 21-year-old jailed for over six years after dangerous overtake killed taxi driver and passenger

A 21-year-old driver has been jailed for six years and eight months after admitting causing a fatal multi-vehicle collision that killed a taxi driver and his passenger and left three others with serious injuries.

Liberty Mitchell, of Chipping Norton, was sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court on Friday 13 February. In addition to the custodial term, she was disqualified from driving for eight years and four months, ordered to undertake an extended driving test before regaining her licence, and required to pay a statutory surcharge.

Mitchell had been due to stand trial but entered guilty pleas at a hearing on 18 December 2025 to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and two counts of causing death by driving whilst uninsured.

The court heard that emergency services were called shortly after 12.45pm on Friday 2 December 2022 to reports of a serious collision on the B4425 at Riversmeet North near Aldsworth, between the Coln St Aldwyns and Eastington turnings. The crash involved a Mini Cooper driven by Mitchell, an Audi A3, a Polestar 2 and a Seat Leon taxi.

Liberty Mitchell sentenced to more than six years after B4425 collision left two dead and three seriously injured

The driver of the taxi, Octavian Codreanu, was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger, school teacher Moyra Whelan, was taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol where she later died from her injuries. Several other people were taken to hospital, with some continuing to live with serious and life-changing injuries as a result of the collision.

Police arrested Mitchell at the scene and she was later charged following an investigation into the circumstances leading up to the crash. Evidence presented to the court showed that she had passed her driving test less than three weeks before the collision.

Investigators found that Mitchell had regularly been speeding and using her mobile phone while driving. Analysis of her social media accounts revealed Snapchat videos recorded behind the wheel. One clip showed her travelling at 100 miles per hour on a county road. Another showed her veering onto the opposite side of the carriageway towards an oncoming vehicle while friends could be heard shouting for her to stop.

On the day of the collision, Mitchell had overtaken on the wrong side of the road, leading to the fatal crash involving the taxi and other vehicles. She was also uninsured at the time.

In mitigation, her barrister described the overtake as a momentary lapse of judgement by a young and inexperienced driver. He told the court that Mitchell had been unable to fully appreciate the risks involved due to her limited time on the road.

Sergeant Williams from the Serious Collision Investigation Team said: "This case was due to go to trial, and I’m pleased that Mitchell pleaded guilty and has now been sentenced.

"Her actions tragically killed taxi driver Octavian Codreanu and his passenger, school teacher Moyra Whelan, as well as seriously injuring three others.

"Friday 2 December 2022 is a day that will be ingrained in not only the minds of the families who lost a loved one, but also the numerous victims who have suffered horrendous injuries and who are still recovering today, as well as the large number of witnesses who stopped to help and whose lives have also been affected.

"Our thoughts remain with those who have suffered loss and injuries, and I’d like to thank the families of everyone involved in the collision for their patience and bravery during what has been a lengthy process."