In the first ever case of its type in the UK, five people last month received prison sentences for their parts in a series of road traffic accidents, caused by a ‘crash for cash’ scheme, which resulted in the death of an innocent motorist.
Four of the accused had deliberately engineered a collision involving four vehicles, two of which were innocent of involvement in the conspiracy. The intention was to commit a type of insurance fraud, commonly known as a ‘crash for cash’ scheme.
A second collision occurred as a result of the first and it was in that collision that Miss Baljinder Kaur Gill was killed.
Death by Dangerous Driving and Conspiracy to Commit Fraud
Of the four involved in the crash for cash scheme: one was jailed for 10 years for causing death by dangerous driving and conspiracy to commit fraud; two were jailed for ten years and three months each, for causing death by dangerous driving, conspiracy to commit fraud and committing acts tending to pervert the course of justice; and the fourth was jailed for twelve months for committing acts tending to pervert the course of justice.
The fifth accused was not involved in the ’crash for cash’ scheme. He was the driver of the vehicle involved in the second collision, which killed Miss Gill, and he was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment for causing death by careless driving.
"The crash for cash culture has become more prevalent in our society, but this is the first known fatality as a result of an induced crash,” said Sergeant James Upton, from the Thames Valley Police, following sentencing. “Today's sentences should serve as a warning that there are severe consequences to those who commit this crime.”
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This blog is intended as a news item only. No connection between Lewis Nedas Law and parties to the case is implied.
