A driver responsible for a fatal head-on collision with an Uber vehicle after driving the wrong way down a major road is now facing the possibility of jail time. Ashley Loveday, 38, was behind the wheel of a stolen Peugeot Boxer van on November 25th, 2022 when the accident occurred on the A13 road in east London.
The collision resulted in the tragic death of 21-year-old Grace Payne, who was a passenger in the Uber car at the time, and the driver of the Uber vehicle, a 59-year-old man, was seriously injured. Loveday appeared at the Old Bailey on Wednesday and entered a guilty plea to charges of causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and aggravated vehicle taking.
Despite his guilty plea, Loveday was granted bail by Judge Alexia Durran but was warned that he should expect a custodial sentence of substantial length. The sentencing hearing has been scheduled for March 9th, 2023.
Grace Payne was on her way home after a work night out when the fatal collision occurred at 2:35 AM. Footage of the accident shows Loveday’s van speeding into oncoming traffic before crashing into the Toyota Prius in which Payne was a passenger. Payne had recently graduated from university and started working in HR at an architecture firm.
Payne’s parents spoke of their immense grief and struggle to come to terms with the loss of their daughter. They described her as caring, compassionate, bright, funny, and always with the ability to brighten up everyone’s day. Payne was also passionate about children and had aspirations of becoming a primary school teacher. She was remembered as the one who would always look after her friends and ensure they got home safely.
At the time of the accident, Loveday was being pursued by a police car on the right side of the A13 carriageway. The events leading up to the collision are still being investigated.
The loss of Grace Payne has left a void in the lives of her family, friends, and loved ones. The tragedy serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible and safe driving, and the devastating consequences that can result from reckless behavior behind the wheel.