Mother, 35, is arrested as she hands herself in after police hunt when she failed to appear in court over charges she killed her son, 10, and daughter, four, in M1 crash
A mother-of-four has been arrested after a police hunt when she failed to appear in court over charges she killed her own children in a brutal motorway crash.
Mary McCann, 35, of Derby, failed to appear before Aylesbury Crown Court on Friday to answer two charges of causing death by dangerous driving and an arrest warrant was issued.
She is set to stand trial over the deaths of her son Smaller, 10, and daughter Lilly, four, after slamming her white Vauxhall Astra into a Scania HGV while driving on the M1 near J14 and J15 on Monday, August 9.
The lorry driver was unhurt, but the motorway was closed for 12 hours.
Police confirmed on Thursday that Ms McCann, who speaks with an Irish accent, had surrendered herself at Aylesbury Police Station overnight and had been arrested.
Mary McCann (pictured), 35, of Derby, failed to appear before Aylesbury Crown Court to answer two charges of causing death by dangerous driving and an arrest warrant was issued
She is set to stand trial over the deaths of her son Smaller (pictured), 10, and daughter Lilly, four, after slamming her Vauxhall Astra into a Scania HGV while driving on the M1 on August 9
Police confirmed on Thursday that Ms McCann, who has an Irish accent, had surrendered herself overnight and had been arrested. Pictured: Ms McCann's children Lilly and Smaller
It was expected that Ms McCann (pictured) would be put before Aylesbury Crown Court where a request for the judge to remand her in custody would be made
A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: 'A woman who was wanted for failing to appear at court in connection with a fatal road traffic collision has now been arrested.
'The woman, aged 35 years and from Derby, presented herself at Aylesbury police station last night.'
It was expected that Ms McCann would be put before Aylesbury Crown Court where a request for the judge to remand her in custody would be made.
The 35-year-old, of Bamford Avenue, Derby, was driving a white Vauxhall Astra that collided with a Scania HGV at about 11.10pm on Monday August 9.
Her son Smaller, 10, and daughter Lilly, 4, were killed in the crash on the northbound carriageway between junctions 14 and 15, near Milton Keynes.
The children's aunt, Margaret McCann, 26, said the family were on the way back from a party in London when the horror crash occurred.
Their mother's Facebook page showed an image of smaller next to a birthday cake and 10th birthday balloon from earlier on Monday August 9
Her son Smaller (left), 10, and daughter Lilly, four, died after Ms McCann slammed her white Vauxhall Astra into a Scania HGV while driving on the M1 near J14 and J15 on August 9
There was a Facebook post of a birthday cake showing it was Smaller's 10th birthday on the day he died
The HGV driver was not injured in the incident, which happened at about 11.10pm on Monday August 9 (file photo)
Ms McCann was injured and another daughter, two, was strapped into her seat in the car and survived the crash. Her 13-year-old daughter had stayed in London.
Devastated family members paid heartbreaking tributes to the children on social media.
One wrote: 'Life is cruel to take them away from my lovely brother. Best old father in the world, he put them first no matter how hard he hit they were his life please god give him the strength.'
The children's aunt said: 'RIP my perfect little niece and nephew. Aunt Elizabeth's old pet Smaller and me little frilly Lilly.
'Love you always and forever and never in this lifetime will you ever be forgotten, always loved.'
A family friend put: 'Mortal divine RIP beautiful angels. So sorry for your loss, their poor mommy and daddy.'
A cousin wrote: 'Can't believe I'm even writing this but rest in peace to my two beautiful little cousins Smaller and Lilly.
'I love you with all my heart. I love you so much this don't even feel real. What has this world come to, hearts in bits. RIP my babies.'
The court was told on Friday that the funerals of McCann's two child
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