Driver Sentenced to 13 Years for Killing Mother of Three While Fleeing Police

A driver who killed a devoted mother of three while fleeing police has been sentenced to 13 years in prison. Michael Connors, 28, was driving at 71 mph in a 20 mph zone seconds before crashing into Lydia La Polla's car in Wrexham in March 2025.

La Polla, 47, died at the scene, and her husband, Robert La Polla, 44, and a 16-year-old girl, a passenger in Connors' vehicle, were seriously injured. Judge Simon Mills told Mold Crown Court that La Polla's "excellent life was needlessly cut short at the age of 47, not far from her 25th wedding anniversary."

Connors, who was on license from jail at the time of the crash, fled the scene in a "cowardly fashion," the judge stated. He was driving without insurance or a license. While the presence of cannabis was noted, with four wraps found in the vehicle, the judge did not assume Connors was under the influence.

Connors had undertaken two "highly dangerous" maneuvers across junctions before the collision. La Polla was driving a Toyota Yaris when Connors' silver Mercedes plowed into the passenger side, causing her vehicle to become airborne, roll over, and strike a wall. The Mercedes was still traveling at 63 mph at the moment of impact.

In a victim impact statement, Robert La Polla described a "profound sense of loss," stating, "My life will never be the same again. To say I am heartbroken is an understatement. Lydia was a wonderful mother to our children and they absolutely adored her. It breaks my heart to know that their mother won't be there for their weddings, and she won't be there to see them grow up and have children of their own. Our close family unit has been shattered into a thousand pieces, and it will never be the same again without Lydia."

Connors, from Ballyfermot, Dublin, admitted to causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He was sentenced to eight years for driving offenses, to run concurrently with his prison sentence, and received an eight-year driving ban with an extended re-test. He has a history of 64 offenses, including nine for dangerous driving in Ireland and nine for driving without insurance. In 2021, he was sentenced to six years in Britain for conspiracy to burgle.

Connors was extradited from Ireland on an international arrest warrant after fleeing the UK following the incident. His defense attorney stated that Connors appeared genuine in his remorse and had time to reflect on his conduct.