A 43-year-old man is in custody on suspicion of murder and attempted murder after a fatal collision on the B4696 near Royal Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire. The crash, which occurred around 6 p.m. on Tuesday evening, involved a northbound orange Peugeot 107 and a southbound black Vauxhall Astra.
The driver of the Peugeot, identified as Barbara Mullaney, a woman in her 70s and owner of the local pet shop Animal Fayre, was pronounced dead at the scene. Ms. Mullaney was a grandmother and a well-known community figure.
A teenage girl, a passenger in the Vauxhall Astra, sustained serious injuries and was transported to a hospital, where she remains. The driver of the Vauxhall, the 43-year-old suspect, was also taken to the hospital for treatment before his arrest.
Wiltshire Police confirmed they received multiple calls from the public concerning the suspect's behavior throughout the day on June 30, prior to the collision. The force has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) due to these prior calls, which are now part of the ongoing investigation.
Detective Chief Inspector Phil Walker stated that the collision is being treated as a murder investigation and that his thoughts are with Ms. Mullaney's family. He reassured the public that there is no wider risk and that officers are working to reconstruct the events leading up to the incident. The investigation team is seeking witnesses and dashcam footage from the area, particularly of the black Vauxhall Astra, on June 30.
Tributes have been shared by Ms. Mullaney's family and the local community, remembering her as a beloved shop owner and a cherished member of the community. Her granddaughter indicated that the family intends to keep her shop open in her honor this week.