Tragic teen star Rosa Taylor (Image: 20 Stories High/ Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)
A motorist who caused the death of her teenage actress passenger has enraged the victim’s family further – after starring in a fly-on-the-wall show about the fatal crash. University graduate Abbey Ridgway, 26, left 19-year old passenger Rosa Taylor with fatal multiple injuries after pulling out at a road junction and veering into the path of a tipper truck, Warrington Magistrates’ Court heard.
But while later being treated in Southmead Hospital, Bristol, Ridgway and her injured boyfriend Aaron Ormesher let a TV crew film them for an episode of the show ‘Emergency 24/7′ – without Rosa’s grieving family’s knowledge. Taxi driver and devastated dad Gareth Taylor said they only found out about the programme nine months later after Ridgway admitted causing the youngster’s death by careless driving.
Read more: Family ‘will never be the same’ after teen dies in horrific crash
Read more: Man, 22, dies after air ambulance called to horror van crash
At court, he condemned Ridgway over her involvement as she was banned from driving for two years and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work for her role in Rosa’s death.
He said: “I don’t know the full details of what will be shown but apparently the background of the accident and Rosa’s death will be mentioned.
“While this may be seen to be in the public domain I feel consenting to this is insensitive to myself, Rosa’s family and friends, and has already created an additional and unnecessary burden of stress. And that is before the programme is aired.”
The tragedy occurred on July 24th 2025 after Rosa – who had secured a place and scholarship to attend a prestigious drama school in London – was being escorted by Ridgway and boyfriend Aaron Ormesher to Corsham Library near Swindon, Wiltshire, to star in the musical theatre production Scrumptious!
The court heard Ridgway failed to look properly as she pulled out of a side street in her Hyundai i10 and veered into the path of the Skania HGV which was travelling along the A4 Bath Road.
The truck driver had no chance of avoiding a collision and ploughed into the side of the Hyundai. Rosa was in the back seat, not wearing a seat belt and died of her injuries at the scene. Mr Ormesher, in the front passenger seat, suffered serious life-changing injuries.
Mr Taylor, from Upholland, Lancashire, told the hearing: “The timing of Rosa’s death – when she was literally on top of the world with so much in front of her – has been difficult to take.
“It is heartbreaking to know she never got to fulfil those dreams that her talent truly deserved. I’m certain Abbey had no intention of causing the accident and I’m sure she’s very sorry.
“But the thing that really plays on my mind is I only approved of Rosa going to Wiltshire for the shows based on Aaron driving, as I know he is a relatively experienced driver.
“Abbey, on the other hand, had passed her test within 12 months of this incident and was inexperienced. I would never have approved of an inexperienced driver driving Rosa around.
“I feel (Abbey) was clearly under pressure in that driving situation and that unfortunately led to her making a terrible decision at the junction.
“I am also extremely disappointed that neither of the two insured drivers enforced Rosa to wear a seatbelt. I understand it was her responsibility to do so and it’s hard to know why she chose not to.
“However, as we know Aaron was wearing a seatbelt and still suffered life-threatening injuries. So the reality is we don’t know what difference wearing a seat belts may have been made.”
Earlier the court heard Ridgway, from Skelmersdale, faced up to three years jail under sentencing guidelines.
Prosecutor Heather Bell said: “It could possibly be argued it is dangerous driving at the junction. She looked one way and perhaps not the other and went straight in front of the tipper lorry.
“Witnesses all confirmed the driver of the lorry was so near to the junction there was no way he could have avoided the collision.”
Now banned driver Abbey Ridgway outside court (Image: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)
Ridgway’s barrister Fraser Livesey insisted his client had passed her driving test “some time” before the accident.
He said: “This is an appalling case. For clarity when Mr Ormesher was taken to hospital there was already a camera crew there and he was in no position to give consent or otherwise.
“The surgeons allowed the camera crew to be involved and some days or a couple of weeks later he was in a position to give his consent.
“He chose to, in tribute to the treatment he had been given. It was Mr Ormesher, as he was entitled to, and nothing to do with Miss Ridgway.”
Mr Livesey added: “Miss Ridgway was willing to accept full responsibility both in the police interview and though her guilty plea and expresses in a number of places her remorse.
“Rosa was a good friend of Miss Ridgway which makes the situation all the worse.”
Ridgway was also sentenced to a 12 month community order and was told to pay £199 in costs and a surcharge.
District Judge Jack McGarva told her: “You were driving what can be a lethal weapon and a young woman who had a very exciting life ahead of her never got to see it.
“You have to bear the responsibility for the rest of your life that you killed somebody.”
Described by her family as a natural-born performer “from birth,” Rosa grew up playing leading roles at the Artz Centre in Skelmersdale and went on to study musical theatre at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.
She had performed with Liverpool Empire Youth Theatre in productions such as Legally Blonde: The Musical and had recently also performed at the Liverpool Playhouse.
She had secured a place at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London and was due to start her course in September 2025.