‘Reckless’ Mom Who Drank Alcohol In Car Before Killing Teens Jailed

A “reckless” mother in England who was drinking alcohol behind the wheel before killing two teenagers after causing a two-vehicle collision has been jailed for 10 years.

On Monday, Aug. 18, Natasha Allarakhia, 36, from the U.K. village of Postwick near Norwich, was sentenced to a decade behind bars at Lincoln Crown Court after causing a crash on June 20, 2024, which resulted in the deaths of William Ray, 17, and Eddie Shore, 18, per a Lincolnshire Police news release.

On the day of the crash, Allarakhia had been traveling toward Sleaford on the A17 road at around 9.40 p.m. local time, when the Audi Q2 she was driving “collided with the rear of a Ford Fiesta that was waiting at some temporary traffic lights, just prior to the junction of the A17 with Rauceby Lane,” the release noted.  

“The driver of the Fiesta, William Ray, 17, and his front seat passenger, Eddie Shore, 18, both died in hospital from their injuries,” police stated.

The victims’ car had been stopped at the temporary traffic lights due to construction ahead on the road, police said. Investigators established that the construction “had been signed on approach, with three warning signs before the temporary traffic lights.”

The release said, “Following the collision Allarakhia initially identified a male [called “Jay”] who had run off from the Audi as the driver, before finally admitting to officers, after being confronted by them at the scene, that she had been driving.”

“Whilst not over the prescribed limit for drink driving, the court also heard how she had been taking sips from a can of alcohol during the journey whilst driving,” police added.

The three other occupants of the Audi, including two of Allarakhia’s children and an adult, escaped with minor injuries, police confirmed, stating in the release that two 18-year-old rear seat passengers in the victims’ car “miraculously” survived, despite both sustaining serious injuries.

Police confirmed in the release that, “Examination of the Audi’s air bag control module and its associated data identified that it was [traveling] in excess of 90 mph just moments prior to the collision,” despite the speed limit in the area being 60 mph.

“Further data revealed that braking only started less than two seconds prior to the collision occurring,” the release noted.

Per the BBC, prosecutor David Eager told the court on Monday that Allarakhia — who had previously admitted two charges of causing death by dangerous driving and one charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving — smashed into the back of Ray’s car at around 70 mph.

He said, “Not only was she driving at 96 mph but she was not paying attention all the time. During part of the journey she was drinking from a can of alcohol, literally drinking and driving,” the outlet stated.

The court was also told that the suspect laughed after passing a roadside breath test, despite the fact that her two daughters, ages 7 and 12, had also been in the car with her at the time of the crash, per the BBC.

“The investigation concluded that Allarakhia’s driving and actions were solely responsible for the collision and that William Ray could have done absolutely nothing to avoid the inevitable collision that her driving caused,” the police release stated.

Detective Sergeant Kate Johnston, from the Lincolnshire Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said, “This collision is solely down to the reckless, selfish and dangerous actions of Allarakhia,” per the release.  

“Because of her utter disregard for the safety of others, two teenagers, with their lives ahead of them, were cruelly taken from this world. The other two occupants of the Fiesta are left with both the physical and mental impacts of that night,” Johnston added.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.  

She continued, “Allarakhia deserves no sympathy in this case – her immediate reaction was to concoct a false story and deny all responsibility until challenged, demonstrating a contemptible disregard for anyone else involved.”  

“Her failure to observe even the most basic rules of the road have destroyed lives, put her own children at risk and rightly attracted a substantial sentence from the court,” the officer said.

As well as the prison sentence, Allarakhia has also been banned from driving for a total of 12 years and eight months and must take an extended re-test before being allowed to drive again, the release stated.

Victim Ray’s mom, Sarah, paid tribute to her son in a tribute released by police on Wednesday, Aug. 20.

“Will was not just my only son, he was also a best friend and I love him dearly,” the tribute read.

She added, “As a mother, I will never get to see Will graduate, get married or make his future life. Will was such a caring, conscientious and compassionate person who cared so much for others. These are the attributes that most of all I will never forget in Will.”

“I just miss him so much, his smile, his cheekiness and his friendship – I can’t give him that hug, that as a mother means so much. Will, I love you,” she said.

Ray’s dad, Steven, shared, “We now all have to learn what a new normal will be for us without Will. He will never be forgotten.”

Lincolnshire Police had no additional comments to make when contacted by PEOPLE.