Campervan Crash Leaves Baby Needing Lifelong Care

A campervan driver's loss of control on a rural road resulted in a severe crash that has left a baby requiring lifelong care. Rachel Pyrah, 45, was driving her campervan on the B6265 at Fellbeck near Pateley Bridge on May 31, 2024, when she reportedly hit a curb and lost control of her vehicle.

Pyrah's campervan then collided with a car carrying a family on a glamping holiday. The impact caused a 14-month-old baby in the car to suffer a traumatic brain injury, necessitating lifelong multi-disciplinary care. A teenage girl in the same vehicle also sustained a head wound that left her with a scar.

At York Crown Court, Pyrah admitted two counts of causing serious injury by careless driving. She was sentenced to 60 hours of unpaid work and a 12-month driving ban. The judge acknowledged Pyrah's remorse and guilty plea, noting her lack of previous convictions, but emphasized the catastrophic results of her losing control.

The incident saw Pyrah's campervan overturn, while the family's car spun and hit a wall. Pyrah stated she had clipped the kerb while descending a hill and lost control. The infant victim spent 19 days in Leeds General Infirmary, including three in critical care, following the devastating collision.