An 18-year-old Islander has been summoned to appear before the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court in relation to causing the deaths of two people by careless driving following a tragic collision on The Downs back in January of this year.
Jack Powell of High Street, Sandown was the driver of a red Renault Clio which was involved in a collision with another vehicle near to Knighton Shute on 2nd January. The tragic incident resulted in the deaths of 14-year-old Kiri-Jade Hodgkinson – who was a front seat passenger in the car – and 67-year-old Barabara Anne Ford, who was travelling in the second vehicle involved.
Following a lengthy investigation by the Roads Death Investigation Team from Eastleigh, Mr Powell has been summoned to appear before Magistrates in Newport on Friday 13th June in relation to two counts of causing death by careless driving.
Jack, a keen footballer, was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital with life-threatening injuries and was in a coma for an extended period. Kiri-Jade, aged just 14, died at the scene.
A 13-year-old girl, also from Sandown, who was travelling in the rear of the Clio at the time of the collision, was also airlifted to Southampton General Hospital with serious injuries and has spent many months in a wheelchair.
Barbara Ford from Brading, who was a front seat passenger travelling in a silver Renault Megane, was taken to St Mary’s Hospital following the incident suffering from serious injuries. She later died in hospital.
