Driver to be charged over crash that killed girl nine years later

A driver is to be prosecuted in connection with a crash in which a girl died nine years after she was severely injured in the collision.

Cerys Edwards, then 11 months old, was left paralysed and needing round-the-clock care after the car she was in was struck head on by a Range Rover in November 2006.

The little girl died in October 2015, a month before her 10th birthday, after complications caused by an infection.

The driver of the Range Rover, Antonio Boparan, then aged 19, but now 31, will appear in court next month, charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

In 2012, Birmingham High Court approved the award of £5 million to the youngster and an annual payment of £450,000 to provide rest-of-life care.

Following Cerys’ death, a post mortem concluded she had died as a result of the collision in Streetly Lane, Sutton Coldfield.

A file was passed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and, on Wednesday, prosecutors confirmed they had authorised the charging of Boparan, of Little Aston, Sutton Coldfield.

Cerys’ father Gareth Edwards, 54, of Lichfield, Staffordshire, said he welcomed the decision to bring a prosecution.

A spokesman for the CPS said: “The CPS authorised a charge of causing death by dangerous driving in respect of Antonio Boparan.

“He is due to appear at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on 10 January 2019.”