Heartbreaking Tragedy on A10: Baby Louis Killed in Hit-and-Run
Rachael Thorold was out walking with her five-month-old son Louis along the A10 in Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire, last January when disaster struck. Both were hit by a van. Louis died instantly at the scene, while Rachael suffered serious injuries.
Police Under Fire for Slow Progress
More than 11 months later, no one has been arrested or charged. The Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Road Policing Unit faces fierce criticism over delays. One crown court judge called the stalled inquiries “totally and utterly unacceptable.”
“The police have frankly been a shambles throughout this, allowing prejudice and discrimination to leak into a complex investigation and cutting corners that have led to delays,” the Thorolds stated in a letter to the BBC and authorities.
Family Launches Formal Police Complaint
The Thorold family has now lodged an official complaint with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The watchdog confirmed receipt of the complaint, which the family describes as their “last resort” for justice.
A police spokesman insists a “thorough investigation” was conducted and a file sent to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). Yet he admitted the inability to interview one driver involved has hampered progress. No charges have been made.
Remembering Louis: Family’s Mission to Prevent Future Tragedies
Rachael spent 10 days in a coma and 118 days in hospital after the crash when a van collided with another car before mounting the pavement and hitting them. Her husband Chris calls her survival “miraculous.”
The Thorolds have set up the Louis Thorold Foundation to honour their son’s memory and campaign to prevent infant pedestrian deaths.
