The mother and sibling of Archie Battersbee, who tragically passed away, have made a court appearance on charges of allegedly causing a car accident in a retaliatory act. Hollie Dance and her son, Thomas Summers, are accused of pursuing a driver from Southend to Basildon in Essex, leading to a collision with a tree, as detailed in Southend Crown Court.
The incident occurred in October 2022, shortly after Archie’s death at the age of 12 due to a failed legal battle concerning his life support. The young boy suffered irreversible brain damage from a dangerous social media challenge. Prosecutors claim that Hollie, aged 50, purposefully directed the man to crash into a tree, while Summers, 26, used another vehicle to push him into a bush. The victim sustained a fractured shoulder, dislocation, cuts, bruises, and required surgery.
According to the prosecution, Hollie tailed the man in her BMW, with Summers blocking his path ahead. Allegedly, they proceeded to threaten the driver with a baseball bat and vandalize his car windows. The prosecutor, Richard Scott, stated that they stalked the victim’s vehicle, resulting in the assault while the car was stationary. Additionally, a canister containing Hollie’s DNA, capable of emitting harmful substances, was discovered near the crash site.
Hollie refutes the claim of pursuing the vehicle, stating that she had spent the day at Archie’s grave before heading to Basildon Sporting Village where he practiced gymnastics. She alleges that a red Peugeot overtook her at high speed, struck her vehicle multiple times, prompting her to follow to ensure he stopped.
Hollie, residing in Southend, faces charges including causing grievous bodily harm with intent, causing serious injury through dangerous driving, and possessing a prohibited weapon for discharging harmful substances. Summers is accused of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, affray, and possessing an offensive weapon, a baseball bat. Rhys Bentley, a family friend present in Summers’ vehicle during the incident, is charged with similar offenses. All parties have denied the charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
The victim recounted feeling as though he was going to die and losing consciousness during the crash, stating that he was ejected from the driver’s seat. The prosecution suggests that the collision followed a prior altercation in Southend, where the victim intervened in a fight involving four females, one of whom was Hollie’s daughter.
The trial is ongoing.