Driver Sentenced After Horror A13 Wrong-Way Crash Kills Young Passenger
Ashley Loveday, 39, from Avondale Road, E16, was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Thursday, 9 March. He had pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and aggravated vehicle taking.
Van Driver Flees Police Before Deadly Head-On Collision
The fatal crash happened just after 2:30am on 25 November 2022. Loveday was driving a stolen van with false number plates the wrong way down the Essex-bound carriageway of the A13. Essex Police had tried to stop him after an ANPR alert but he refused to pull over.
He raced against oncoming traffic at speeds of around 71mph for over a mile and a half before smashing head-on into a Toyota Prius.
Young Passenger Dies, Driver Left With Life-Changing Injuries
Grace Payne, 21, from Upminster, was a passenger in the Prius and was pronounced dead at the scene. The Prius driver survived but suffered life-changing injuries.
Loveday was treated in hospital for minor injuries and later charged by the Met’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit before being remanded in custody.
Family Mourns ‘Bright, Bubbly’ Grace Payne
“Grace’s death has left us, along with the rest of her family and friends, devastated. We are struggling to come to terms with the fact that our daughter will never be coming home,” her parents said.
“She made us proud in so many ways – caring, compassionate, bright and funny. Grace had the ability to brighten up anyone’s day. She always wanted to help and make people happy.”
“Grace loved children and hoped to retrain as a primary school teacher. This year she graduated from Kent University with a degree in history and philosophy. She had just started work with an architects firm in London and was enjoying life after Covid confinements.”
“If Grace was with friends, she was always looking out for everyone else, making sure they got home safe. Tragically, she never made it home.”
Police Under Investigation Over Role Before Crash
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating Essex Police’s actions prior to the collision, including their pursuit of Loveday before the fatal crash.
