A man who was driving while disqualified has been handed a 10-year prison sentence after causing a devastating head-on collision that claimed the life of his 18-year-old passenger, Chloe Pearson. Jack Reape, 31, of Townley Road, Wakefield, was sentenced at Leicester Crown Court after admitting to causing death by dangerous driving and three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
The tragic incident unfolded on 15 December 2023, when Reape, driving a Citroen C3 on the A426 Rugby Road in Cotesbach, Leicestershire, veered into the path of an oncoming vehicle. Front-seat passenger Chloe Pearson suffered a severe head injury and succumbed to her injuries two days later in hospital.
Chloe's twin sister, Abigale Pearson, who was a backseat passenger in Reape's vehicle, sustained life-threatening injuries, including internal bleeding and a fractured collarbone. Reape himself also suffered serious injuries, requiring several weeks of hospitalisation. Two other passengers in his car received minor injuries.
The impact of the crash also gravely affected two individuals in the Mercedes CLK that Reape collided with. Leicestershire Police confirmed that they suffered serious, life-changing injuries that continue to impact their mobility today. Detective Constable Charlotte Wright described the crash as a "deeply tragic incident" with a "devastating and lasting impact" on multiple lives.
At the time of the collision, Reape was legally disqualified from driving and possessed only an expired provisional licence. Beyond his prison sentence, he has been banned from driving for 12 years and will be required to pass an extended driving test before being eligible to drive again. Det Con Wright underscored that Reape "should never have been behind the wheel," highlighting how his reckless actions led to the untimely death of a young woman and left others with severe injuries and enduring grief.