A 17-year-old girl died after a crash on the M1 near Wakefield while travelling with friends to see pop band The Vamps. Elise Thomas, from Driffield, East Yorkshire, suffered life-threatening injuries when a Ford Fiesta she was in was hit from behind after breaking down.
The incident occurred on August 12, 2023, when the Fiesta's front tyre began to fray and detach, forcing the driver to stop in lane three. About 29 seconds later, a silver Vauxhall Corsa crashed into the stationary car. Elise died in hospital six days later, and another passenger suffered life-changing injuries.
During a trial at Hull Crown Court, the 51-year-old driver of the Corsa was accused of causing death by careless driving. The prosecution argued he failed to see the broken-down vehicle, but the defence suggested a visual phenomenon called 'looming' may have affected his perception. The judge directed the jury to clear him of all charges.
Elise's family paid tribute, describing her as a 'beautiful soul' and an 'amazingly talented' wildlife photographer. 'Everything she touched turned to gold,' they said.
