A woman who crashed into an HGV with her two children while drink driving has been jailed at Aylesbury Crown Court
Prosecuting, Stephen Shay told the court that on August 9 last year the woman was travelling at 72mph in a 60mph zone. The woman’s daughter was thrown from the car and found beside the road while her son was found in the footwell of the back seat.
“Shortly before the collision the lorry was in lane one and the lorry was moving into lane two. The defendant was driving in lane two,” said Mr Shay.
“For no obvious reason, the defendant drifted into Lane One. She steered right in an unsuccessful attempt to jump the lorry.
“The car sustained catastrophic damage to the rear side and rotated anticlockwise.
He added that a witness heard the woman cry: “God, why didn’t I put their seatbelts on”.
Analysis following the accident found the woman to have 98mcg alcohol per 100ml blood. The legal limit for drink driving is 80mcg.
Defending, Laban Leake said the defendant had complex post-traumatic stress disorder: “She is here to be punished by this court and rightly so, but it must be acknowledged that the true punishment for this offence lives within [my client]”.
Had they been strapped in, said Judge Francis Sheridan, her daughter would “not have been ejected” while her son “would have remained in his seat.
“There is no punishment commensurate with the loss of one’s two children and I accept that,” he said.
Jailing her for four years and one month for two counts of causing death by careless driving while drink driving, he added:
“This is a heartbreaking case, to have to sentence a mother for killing two of her own children while drunk and driving as badly as you were.
“It is a disgrace that you drove whilst drunk with your two children in the back of the car.
“You will carry the costs of what you did for the rest of your life.”
“The message must go out: don’t drive under the influence of alcohol.”
About Carl Millar
Carl Millar is a highly respected and experienced drink driving solicitor who is the principal of Millars Solicitors.
Carl has been a specialist in road traffic law for many years and represents clients from all walks of life and all over the Country. He is well known for the dogged defending of his clients and robust cross examination of police officers and exert witnesses.
With a wealth of expertise in motoring law Carl is well placed to provide advice over the phone and deal with all road traffic matters in a calm and professional way.
Getting in contact with Carl and Millars Solicitors is really easy. You can call him FREE on 0800 999 5535, or click here to send a confidential message.
