Ethan Burdett, 67, has been sentenced to three years in prison after causing a tragic crash on the M25 that resulted in the deaths of four minibus passengers. The accident occurred between junctions 27 and 26 near Waltham Abbey, Essex, on August 23, 2021.
The victims, Dexter Augustus, 60, Jennifer Smith, 59, Abigael Muamba, 31, and Lisa Gardiner, 44, were killed when Burdett’s lorry collided with the back of their minibus. Burdett, from Ipswich, had previously admitted to four counts of causing death by careless driving.
Chelmsford Crown Court heard that Burdett was driving a truck loaded with flooring from the A12 at Brentwood toward Waltham Abbey. The minibus, driven by Jamal Hussain, was carrying 11 passengers from the homeless hostel Branches, returning from a day trip to Southend-on-Sea.
Prosecutor Gregory Wedge detailed how the minibus, traveling behind a silver Ford Mondeo driven by Leslie Woodward, had stopped due to queuing traffic. Burdett, however, failed to stop in time, crashing into the minibus and causing it to hit the Mondeo. The impact caused the minibus to topple over, while the Mondeo spun 180 degrees.
Mr. Augustus, Ms. Smith, and Ms. Muamba died at the scene. Ms. Gardiner suffered severe head injuries and died six days later. Mr. Hussain and three passengers, Peter Salmon, Mansour Balla, and Sonnie Hutchins, sustained serious injuries.
Judge Christopher Morgan also banned Burdett from driving for 54 months, requiring him to pass an extended driving test after his ban ends. He acknowledged the lifelong impact on the victims and their families, stating that the crash will stay with them “for the rest of their lives.”
Burdett, who wept as victim impact statements were read, showed no emotion when sentenced. Mr. Hutchins, one of the injured passengers, shared that he has been haunted by nightmares since the accident. He recounted helping Jennifer Smith, a Branches staff member, by brushing broken glass off her face while waiting for medical assistance.
Ms. Muamba’s mother, Berthine, expressed her family’s devastation, saying they were in “total shock” upon learning of her death. She emphasized the irreplaceable support Abigael provided to her family.
Police investigations found no activity on Burdett’s phone immediately before or during the collision, and toxicology tests revealed no alcohol or drugs in his system.
