A TEEN driver who had held her licence for less than a month has been jailed after a 96mph horror smash which killed two people.
Liberty Mitchell, now 21, was just 18 when she ploughed into traffic, and killed a taxi driver and a teacher in a four-vehicle pile-up.
The tragedy took place on the B4425 near Aldsworth, Gloucestershire on December 2, 2022.
Liberty, from Chipping Norton, had passed her test only three weeks earlier, the court heard.
She pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and causing the deaths of two people, and was seen crying openly in the dock.
Driving a grey Mini Cooper, the inexperienced motorist attempted to overtake three cars at once while tearing along at 96mph in a 60 zone.
Seconds later she tried to swerve back and smashed head-on into a taxi, killing its driver, Octavian Codreanu, and a passenger, Moyra Whelan.
Mr Codreanu was tragically pronounced dead at the scene and his 35-year-old passenger later died in hospital.
The history teacher had been on her way to a wedding, and was travelling with her friend, Nicola Cooper.
Ms Cooper said: “The crash itself was traumatic, the impact felt endless.
“I live with survivor’s guilt and the trauma of losing one of my closest friends, Moyra, who was sitting just inches from me.
“I lie awake at night thinking about the ‘what ifs’.”
Mitchell previously admitted two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, causing death while uninsured, and three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
She was jailed for six years and eight months at Gloucestershire Crown Court.
Mitchell was working as a self-employed cleaner at the time and was driving between holiday cottages in the area to carry out jobs.
The devastating four-vehicle pile-up also involved an Audi A3, a Polestar 2 and a Seat Leon.
Three victims were rushed to Southmead and John Radcliffe hospitals with serious injuries.
Eight others were taken to Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General.
Injuries included a fractured hip, broken ribs, severe abdominal wounds and shattered bones protruding through skin.
Moyra’s younger sister Katy-Louise said: “She had so much left that she wanted to experience, but the opportunity was stolen from her and we are devastated.
“It’s like the light of the world is dimmed, and we will never be able to turn it back on again.
“One aspect that haunts me is that my sister died violently. I’m truly devastated that my beautiful, innocent sister was subjected to that.”
Police analysis of Mitchell’s social media revealed she had filmed Snapchat videos while driving.
In one clip, she veered onto the opposite side of the road towards an oncoming car as friends screamed at her to stop.
While Mitchell’s defence argued that her actions were down to “inexperience rather than irresponsibility,” Judge Lowe blasted her as “a reckless and immature young driver.”
He said she had been suffering “from the frankly common teenage delusion that you were invulnerable.”
The Judge added: “The lives of all the victims and their families have been irrevocably changed.”
Mitchell must serve half her sentence before being eligible for release.
She has been banned from driving for eight years and four months and must pass an extended test before ever getting back behind the wheel.
