Teenager avoids jail after horror crash that killed her friend on her father’s 50th birthday

Teenager, 18, who crashed her car into lorry and killed her 17-year-old friend avoids jail for death by dangerous driving

  • Georgia Ogden, 17, was killed in the crash when their car collided with a HGV 
  • Millie Beard, 18, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving at court
  • Georgia’s family paid tribute to their ‘beautiful, loving, caring, sassy daughter’ 

A teenager has avoided jail and banned from driving after a car crash which killed her friend on her dad’s 50th birthday.

Millie Beard, 18, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving after ploughing into a lorry, killing Georgia Ogden 17, and seriously injuring another friend.

Beard and the other passenger were taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital for further treatment.

Georgia Ogden, 17, was killed in the crash on June 25, 2020, when their car collided with a HGV

The incident happened at 2.30am on June 25, the same day as Georgia’s father’s birthday.

Crewe Magistrates’ Court heard on March 23 Georgia and another teenage girl were passengers in Beard’s Suzuki Swift when it collided with an HGV at the junction of Peel Lane and the A34 Newcastle Road.

Beard, of Pine Way, Somerford, was disqualified from driving for two years and must then pass an extended test of competence.

Police patrols at the scene of the collision in Astbury, Cheshire, on June 25 2020

Police patrols at the scene of the collision in Astbury, Cheshire, on June 25 2020 

She was also ordered to pay costs and a surcharge totalling £180 and given a community order and a six-month curfew.

Following the sentencing, Georgia’s family said: ‘We are absolutely heartbroken that neither us or any representatives for us got the opportunity to hear the sentencing, which would have helped us possibly move forward.

‘However, no sentence will ever be enough because nothing will ever bring our gorgeous Georgia back.

‘The devastating reality is that we are the ones living with a sentence, a life sentence, without our beautiful, loving, caring, sassy daughter Georgia in our lives.

Georgia's family paid tribute to their 'beautiful, loving, caring, sassy daughter' in a statement after the trial

Georgia’s family paid tribute to their ‘beautiful, loving, caring, sassy daughter’ in a statement after the trial 

‘We are so truly devastated by the whole thing and events that have followed since.’

The crash happened at the junction of Peel Lane and the A34 Newcastle Road.

Floral tributes were left at the scene by friends and family.

The family said last July: ‘We will never make any sense of this devastatingly tragic event and how our beautiful babe has been snatched away from us in an instance.

‘Georgia – Gee or Oggy to her family and friends – a stunningly beautiful, sassy, bubbly and kind-hearted soul who lit up any room from the moment she walked in.

Floral tributes were left at the scene by devastated family and friends after the incident in 2020

Floral tributes were left at the scene by devastated family and friends after the incident in 2020

She was known by everyone for her beautiful smile, infectious laugh and randomly breaking out into song and dance.

‘Gee has touched the hearts of so many during her 17 years, with her amazingly funny personality and loving nature.

‘She will live on forever in all of our hearts.