Young mum killed in horror smash was speeding to get toddler son to first modelling job

Georgina Taylor died in the motorway smash less than  a month after passing her driving test, while her 13-month-old son Rory survived


A proud young mum was killed in a car crash as she excitedly raced to get her toddler son to his first modelling assignment.

Georgina Taylor, 22, was so delighted that 13-month-old Rory had been picked for a photo shoot at a child model agency, she hit speeds of up to 85mph on a motorway in her silver BMW Mini Cooper.

But as she tried to negotiate a bend, Georgina suddenly lost control of her car and went into a 360 degree spin before ploughing into a tree on an embankment.

As her car began to catch fire, passing motorists pulled over and bravely rescued Rory from the booster seat inside the wrecked vehicle.

Miraculously the boy escaped with just a cut and abrasion to his head, but his mum died in the driver's seat from multiple fatal injuries.

Inquiries revealed Georgina had only passed her driving test 15 days before the tragedy, and the car's tyres were "significantly deflated."

Her inexperience with driving meant she was unable to properly negotiate a bend on the A627 near Oldham, Greater Manchester at high speed.

Rory, now 18-months-old, lives with his grandparents and is still said to be too young to understand what happened to his mother

Tragedy: Georgina Taylor

An inquest was told Georgina from Knaresbrough, North Yorks, had started driving in 2012 and obtained a provisional licence before passing her driving test at the third attempt on January 10 2014.

Her mother's partner often accompanied her in her Mini and said she always drove "carefully and competently" and that she never took any unnecessary risks whilst driving.

But tragedy struck on January 25 this year when Georgina - a keen dancer and horse rider - was offered the chance to take her son to a professional photo shoot with a child model agency in Macclesfield.

She was said by her mum Sally to be "so excited" that her son had been picked for the photo shoot and "dedicated" the weekend to the toddler.

But on her way to the assignment she began speeding - even though she was not late for the shoot.

Eye-witness Simon Thompson said: "I was driving at around 70mph and that was when the Mini overtook me and it came passed quite fast.

"I did not think much of it at first. It was going quite fast and was increasing in speed. As it got to the side of the Mondeo in front of me I saw the back of the Mini swing out and skid out of control. It was awful to see."

Mondeo driver, Paul Herdman added: "I first noticed a noise - there was a sound of skidding and squeeking. I was travelling at 70mph and she must have been doing 15 mph more than me."

He said the Mini spun into his path before continuing to do a 360 turn on the hard shoulder.

Crash site: A627(M) where Georgina crashed

Passing motorist and break-down recovery driver Shaun Pattinson, came across the aftermath of the crash.

He said: "I ran up to the car and could see a baby looking at me from the back seat. It was not clear if anyone else was in the car at this point as the roof was completely crushed in, not far from the babies head. I reached in unfastened the baby straps and lifted him out. I had to be careful because of the broken window.

"I handed him to someone and went back to the embankment and people were shouting 'she is gone, she is gone, leave it."

He then realised that the back of the car was smoking and added: "I got down on my knees and started shovelling mud with my hands to put the fire out. I was trying to do it as fast as I could. Eventually someone turned up with an extinguisher."

Senior coroner Simon Nelson recorded Georgina's death as a road traffic collision and told her mum Sally: "I mentioned how miraculous, as I think that is the only word for it, that your grandson came out of this completely unscathed. I hope when he is old enough to understand you will tell him about his mother who sadly is no longer here to care for him.

"As she passed her driving test she would have means to be a free spirit. She was able to travel. I appreciate that weekend was devoted to her son. I do not perceive this is a scenario of someone being late for an appointment and taking risks to make up time.

"I put her speeding simply down to a lack of experience. I cannot ignore the fact that speed was a significant factor in this incident. It was quite miraculous that no one else sustained a life threatening injury. What occurred will remain with all the family for the rest of your lives. She had an eventful life. She strikes me as a very determined individual."