Woman suing driver who killed her sister

COMPENSATION: Young law student is seeking six-figure sum after death of two-year-old sibling in road crash

A young woman is suing the driver who killed her toddler sister and left her in a wheelchair for several months.

Dionne Edwards, 20, has launched legal action against Forfar motorist Luke Pirie at the Court of Session.

Pirie was sentenced to six years in prison for causing the death of Dionne’s younger sister, Harlow, near the family’s Coupar Angus home in 2016.

He was travelling at 50mph in a 30mph zone when he attempted to overtake a line of cars, collided with another vehicle and spun out of control, hitting Dionne, Harlow and a six-year-old boy.

A young law student is suing the driver who killed her little sister.

Dionne Edwards has launched legal action against motorist Luke Pirie at Scotland’s highest civil court.

Pirie was sentenced to six years in prison for causing the death of Dionne’s younger sister Harlow, near the family’s Coupar Angus home in 2016.

The High Court in Glasgow was told 23-year-old Pirie had been racing home to confront his girlfriend, who he believed had cheated on him, when he lost control of his car and mounted a pavement.

He ploughed into two-year-old Harlow – who died almost instantly – as well as a six-year-old boy and Dionne, who were both severely injured.

Dionne, who was in a wheelchair for several months after the crash, has now begun legal proceedings at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

It is understood the 20-year-old, who is now studying law at Abertay University, is claiming for a six-figure sum.

Neither Dionne nor her representatives at Digby Brown Solicitors were able to comment on the case yesterday.

Dionne had bleeding to the brain and a spinal fracture, and also suffered nightmares and anxiety following the accident.

The tragedy, which happened during the October half-term holidays, prompted calls for safety improvements on Forfar Road, near Larghan Park, in Coupar Angus.

In the aftermath of the crash, Dionne accompanied her parents Sara and Steven Edwards to public meetings and events to support calls for extra measures.

The family also held a peaceful protest near the spot where Harlow died, to put extra pressure on Perth and Kinross Council.

The local authority agreed to introduce a series of traffic calming measures at the location, but the Edwards’ campaign also prompted a wider review of the region’s 20mph policy.

Dionne was at her mother’s side when she spoke out following Pirie’s sentence. Sara Edwards said: “Over the last year, we as a family have had to live through something that no family should.”

While welcoming the sentence, she added: “We want to say that this in no way matches the life sentence that we are now living and the life that has been denied to our precious Harlow.”

The parents launched a charity, Harlow’s Helping Hand, in their daughter’s memory.

Earlier this year, Pirie was left with a seven inch scar across his face after he was slashed by another inmate at Edinburgh’s Saughton Prison.

Dionne, who was in a wheelchair for several months after the crash, has now begun legal proceedings at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.