India Thompson pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to killing Shaunta Rhoden by dangerous driving
(Picture: ES/Tristan Kirk)The driver of a car who killed one of her passengers when she crashed into a lamppost at the end of a police chase is facing prison.
India Thompson, 20, was at the wheel of a silver Vauxhall Astra at 4.25am when she failed to pull over for police near to Streatham Common on March 28 last year.
After a short chase, Thompson crashed the car into a lamppost in Greyhound Lane, Streatham Vale, leaving all five occupants of the vehicle in need of hospital treatment.
One of the passengers, 19-year-old Shaunta Rhoden, died two days later from her injuries, while a second, Kumarah Cyrus, was seriously injured but survived.
At the Old Bailey on Wednesday, Thompson appeared in the dock to plead guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
Judge John Hillen granted her bail, but warned her a prison term was inevitable when she is sentenced on December 2.
“You have pleaded guilty to an extremely serious offence, for which a substantial custodial sentence will be imposed”, he told her.
“I’m going to take the exceptional course of releasing you on bail. You were released under investigation, then on unconditional bail.
“It will ease the task of the probation service if I release you on bail now, rather than sending you immediately inside.
“You have come to court knowing you are going to go into custody, and you can spend the next few weeks arranging your affairs and in particular in relation to the council tenancy which will come to an end.”
At the time of the crash, the Metropolitan Police said officers had “indicated for a car to stop” but it had failed to pull over in Streatham Common Northside.
“The car failed to stop and a pursuit was initiated. A short time later the car was in collision with a lamppost”, the force said.
“London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade attended the scene. The five occupants of the car were taken to hospital for treatment. Three women remain in hospital, one of whom, aged 19 years, is in a critical condition.
“Two other women have been discharged from hospital. They have been arrested in connection with the incident, along with two of the women in hospital, and remain in police custody.”
Thompson, from Palmers Green, north London, has no previous convictions and indicated she would plead guilty at her first court appearance last month.
She will be fitted with an electronic tag and be under a 7pm to 6am curfew until the sentencing hearing.
She denied additional charges of causing death by driving without a licence and while uninsured, and they will be left to lie on file.
