A man has been charged with murder following a fatal collision near Royal Wootton Bassett on 30 June. The crash occurred at around 6.05pm on the B4696 between Brinkworth Road and Lydiard Plain, involving an orange Peugeot 107 and a black Vauxhall Astra.
The woman driving the Peugeot, believed to be in her 70s, was pronounced dead at the scene. Wiltshire Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team have charged 43-year-old Anthony Howells from Purton with murder and other offences.
The Peugeot was travelling southbound towards Royal Wootton Bassett, while the Vauxhall Astra was headed northbound towards Cricklade. The collision took place on the B4696, a road running between Brinkworth Road and Lydiard Plain.
Anthony Howells has been charged with murder, dangerous driving, driving without insurance, failing to stop at the scene, and failing to provide details. He has been remanded in custody and appeared at Swindon Magistrates Court on 6 July.
Detective Chief Inspector Phil Walker thanked the local community for their support and clarified earlier errors regarding vehicle directions. He urged anyone with dashcam footage from Lydiard Plain, Cricklade High Street or Purton High Street on 30 June to come forward with information.
“I would like to apologise for the confusion regarding the direction of travel of the vehicles on the B4696 in our earlier appeals. This detail has been corrected but, for clarity, the Peugeot 107 was travelling southbound towards Royal Wootton Bassett, and the Vauxhall Astra was travelling northbound towards Cricklade. I’d like to repeat my appeal for witnesses with dash-cam in the Lydiard Plain area of the B4696 and in the areas of Cricklade High Street and Purton High Street on June 30.”
Detective Chief Inspector Walker also extended condolences to the victim’s family and thanked them for their dignity and patience during the early stages of the investigation.
Originally published by UKNIP.
