Murder investigation launched after head-on crash kills pet shop owner in her 70s

Barbara Mullaney was killed in the crash, leaving her local community in mourning

Police have opened a murder investigation after a crash killed an elderly woman and left a teenage passenger severely injured.

The two-car collision happened on the B4696, between Lydiard Plain and Braydon Road, near Royal Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire, on the evening of June 30.

Wiltshire Police said the fatal incident involved an orange Peugeot 107 travelling northbound and a black Vauxhall Astra travelling southbound.

The driver of the Peugeot, a woman in her 70s named Barbara Mullaney, was declared dead at the scene, while the teen passenger remains in hospital.

A man aged 43, who was driving the Vauxhall, was first arrested on suspicion of death by dangerous driving and causing death by driving while unfit through drink or drugs.