Man Admits Killing Uber Passenger in Wrong-Way Van Crash on A13
Ashley Loveday, 38, has confessed to causing the death of 21-year-old Grace Payne by barreling the wrong way down the A13 in a stolen van during a police chase.
Deadly Crash on London’s A13
The horrific crash happened just after 2:30 a.m. on November 25 last year on the eastbound carriageway of the A13 in east London. Loveday was driving a Peugeot Boxer van stolen days earlier when he refused to stop for Essex Police and sped off.
He drove against the flow of traffic before smashing head-on into a Toyota Prius carrying Grace Payne, an Uber passenger, and driver Sunder Ali.
- Grace Payne, a university graduate working at an architecture firm, died at the scene.
- Sunder Ali was seriously injured but survived.
The Uber trip was ending a night out with colleagues, and Grace was heading home to Upminster.
Loveday Faces Justice at Old Bailey
At a hearing on Wednesday, Loveday admitted causing Grace’s death and seriously injuring Sunder Ali through reckless driving on the A1306 Marsh Way and the A13.
He also pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking from before November 22 last year. Loveday, from Canning Town, east London, was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on March 9.
Judge Alexia Durran ordered a probation report focusing on the danger Loveday posed to the public. While the full details of the crash weren’t debated, Loveday confirmed he would not contest the facts.
Family Mourns ‘Bright and Caring’ Grace Payne
“Grace’s death has left us, along with the rest of her family and friends, devastated. We are struggling to accept the fact that our daughter will never return home.”
Grace’s parents described her as “caring, compassionate, bright, funny, and bubbly” – someone who could “brighten anyone’s day.”
They recalled her dream of becoming a primary school teacher after working in human resources, as well as her love for coaching juniors at Brentwood Cricket Club and travelling across Europe with university friends.
Grace graduated this year from the University of Kent with a degree in history and philosophy. Her family said she was known for always looking out for others on nights out – a role tragically cut short on that fateful A13 drive.
