Driver pleads guilty to killing woman and dogs in Chigwell crash

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 30 Oct, 10:14 · Archive

A 24-year-old man has pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving after hitting a 48-year-old woman and her two dogs.

Dantay Roche, 24, of Chigwell, has pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, criminal damage and causing death by driving an uninsured vehicle. He struck Marie Theobald, 48, and her two Maltese dogs, Riley and Honey, as they crossed Manford Way in Ilford at around 5pm on 22 December 2023. Roche was driving his white Seat Leon at 61mph in a 30mph zone, more than double the speed limit.

Ms Theobald was pronounced dead at the scene despite emergency services' efforts. Both the London Ambulance Service and London Air Ambulance attended. The vehicle was later found abandoned in a nearby cul-de-sac, Stevens Way, with significant damage. CCTV footage showed Roche stepping out with a passenger to inspect the damage before fleeing.

Roche handed himself in at Ilford police station the following day. He appeared at the Old Bailey on 28 October and was remanded in custody. He will be sentenced on 25 January. Detective Inspector Mark Braithwaite said: 'This was an awful incident that resulted in Marie's death in the most tragic circumstances just days before Christmas.' MyLondon reports that Roche has never provided an explanation for why he was driving at that speed.

How it is being reported

• Hit-and-run driver admits killing woman and two dogs in horror east London car crashMarie Theobald and her dogs, Honey and Riley, were killed three days before ChristmasEvening Standard · 30 Oct, 11:04
• Speeding driver admits killing woman and two dogs in Ilford horror crashA speeding driver has admitted striking a 48-year-old woman and her two dogs as they crossed the road just days before Christmas.MyLondon · 30 Oct, 09:33
• Driver admits killing woman and her two dogs in Chigwell crash before ChristmasA man has pleaded guilty to causing the death of a woman and her two dogs by dangerous driving in Chigwell just days before Christmas.This Is Local London · 30 Oct, 09:10

In this story: Dantay Roche · Marie Theobald · Chigwell · Ilford · Old Bailey · Metropolitan Police

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log