A young driver responsible for a devastating crash in Gloucestershire that resulted in two deaths was found to have regularly filmed herself speeding and swerving into oncoming traffic, sharing these reckless moments on Snapchat just weeks after passing her driving test.
Liberty Mitchell, 21, from Chipping Norton, faced Gloucester Crown Court on February 13 for sentencing after pleading guilty to causing the deaths of taxi driver Octavian Codreanu and schoolteacher Moyra Whelan. The multi-vehicle collision occurred on December 2, 2022, near Aldsworth on the B4425 road. Mitchell, newly licensed, dangerously attempted to overtake on the wrong side, causing a crash involving four vehicles, including the Mini Cooper she was driving, an Audi A3, a Polestar 2, and a Seat Leon taxi.
Octavian Codreanu died at the scene, while Moyra Whelan was rushed to Southmead Hospital in Bristol but succumbed to her injuries later that day. Several others sustained serious injuries, enduring physical and emotional trauma that changed their lives permanently.
READ MORE: Chris Packham Opens Up on His Unexpected Relationship with Jeremy Clarkson
READ MORE: “Most committed 90-minute performance of the season” - Cheltenham Town boss Steve Cotterill after Barnet draw
Evidence from Mitchell’s phone, presented by Gloucestershire Police, revealed numerous videos of her engaging in dangerous driving behaviors—driving at speeds up to 100mph and veering into oncoming lanes despite friends’ pleas to stop. These videos had been shared via Snapchat during the mere weeks after she obtained her license.
During a hearing on December 18, 2025, Mitchell admitted to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and two counts of causing death while driving uninsured. She was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison, disqualified from driving for over eight years, required to pass an extended driving test to regain her license, and ordered to pay a statutory surcharge.
Among the victims was Nicola Cooper, seriously injured and deeply impacted by the loss of her best friend Moyra. Nicola’s victim impact statement conveys the profound trauma and survivor’s guilt she endures daily, emphasizing the preventability of the tragedy tied to one person’s reckless actions.
Another survivor, Lynda Guest, detailed her severe physical injuries including spinal fractures and emergency surgeries, revealing the long-term physical and psychological scars left by the crash.
Moyra Whelan’s sister Katy-Louise shared heartfelt memories of Moyra’s vibrant spirit and the devastating void her loss has created for family and friends. Moyra, a beloved history teacher and social soul, had so much life ahead that was cruelly cut short.
Other victims, including Simon, described the ongoing pain, both physical and emotional, and the dramatic ways the incident reshaped their identities and futures.
This tragic event serves as a painful reminder of the serious consequences of reckless and inexperienced driving, especially when measured against the ripple effect on victims and their loved ones.