2,600 islanders back push for ‘Freddie’s Law’

Monday 18 January 2021

A petition calling for a ‘Freddie’s Law’ to close a perceived loophole around traffic accidents has been signed by around 2,600 people.

The official online petition was launched by Joanna Dentskevich, whose 14-year-old son Freddie was badly injured after being hit by a van while out cycling last March, on Thursday.

Within 24 hours, it already surpassed the point at which it requires an official Ministerial response.

Express reported on the Dentskevich family’s campaign to correct what they see as an injustice earlier this week, after the Attorney General confirmed that the driver of the vehicle that hit Freddie would not face prosecution. 

The family believes that this is because the driver told police that she didn’t stop at the scene as she didn’t know what she had hit.

Pictured: Freddie Dentskevich in hospital last March after he was hit by a van.

In launching the petition, Freddie’s mother, Joanna, said: “Our son was left for dead following an horrific hit and run cycle collision. The driver drove on and later used a little known loophole in the law to evade justice.

“This is just one example of a long history of road traffic collisions where, under the current Jersey law, the vulnerable road user has had little to no protection, which often allows perpetrators to avoid any accountability and continue to drive carefree on our Island roads. 

“This loophole also undermines the abilities of the police to conduct proper investigations. 

“The States Assembly should urgently commission a review of the laws governing the rights and protections of all vulnerable road users with a view to making it safer to cycle, walk and horse ride on Jersey’s roads.”

Published on Thursday, the petition had already attracted more than 1,100 signatures by end of the day on Friday.

Freddie had stopped at a yellow line before a main road in St Martin when he was hit by the van. He suffered cuts, two fractures, lost teeth and concussion and only returned to a full day’s schooling last month. 

The police concluded that it appeared to be an “unfortunate accident”, while the Law Officers’ Department said that, after two reviews, “the evidence did not afford a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence.”