The sister of a teenager who was tragically killed in a car crash on her 18th birthday has launched a passionate campaign to improve road safety, calling for a radical reduction in speed limits on a dangerous County Durham road.
Abbie Devanney was celebrating her 18th birthday on October 25, 2023, when her life was cut short in a horrific accident. She had been enjoying a night out in Consett with friends when 17-year-old Charlie Whittaker offered them a lift to Newcastle. During a detour to pick up a jacket from his home, Whittaker was driving at an estimated 69mph along a dark, rural stretch of Brooms Lane when his vehicle struck a puddle left by an earlier storm.
The car aquaplaned, left the road, and collided violently with a tree, tearing off the front passenger door. Abbie, who was sitting in the rear, died instantly. Whittaker, now 19, was sentenced in April 2025 to five years and four months in prison after pleading guilty to causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving. He was also disqualified from driving for over seven years.
For Abbie’s younger sister, Amy, the trauma of that night remains raw. Amy, who was only 15 at the time, has spoken openly about the devastating impact of the loss, noting that she still struggles to process the sudden death of her best friend.
“I have not only lost my sister, I have lost my best friend, my Maid of Honour, the Auntie to my future children, and the ability to make memories with her,” Amy said.
In the wake of the tragedy, Amy has launched a petition to lower the speed limit on Brooms Lane from the current 60mph to 30mph. She argues that the road’s poor condition and tendency to flood make the higher speed limit inherently dangerous, particularly during adverse weather.
“How many more lives have to be lost before we take action?” she asked.
Amy’s campaign has gained momentum alongside a new documentary produced by Durham Constabulary, which features harrowing dashcam and bodycam footage from the night of the crash. Amy hopes that by sharing her family’s story and participating in school outreach programs, she can deter young drivers from speeding and dangerous habits.
Addressing the sentence handed to Whittaker—which will likely result in his release after just two years due to his age—Amy expressed deep frustration. “It’s an insult—two years for taking an entire life,” she said.
Determined to find purpose in her grief, Amy is channelling her energy into advocacy. “I can choose for it to ruin the rest of my life and sit with it, or choose to make something good out of it,” she said. “By spreading awareness, it’s my way of regaining control.”
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