Darryl Jason Anderson was behind the wheel of an Audi Q5 when tragedy struck
A drunk Audi driver was taking pictures of his dashboard at 141mph before smashing into a family car and killing an eight-month-old baby.
The court heard that Shalorna Warner went to pick up Karlene Warner from Newcastle Airport in the early hours of the morning. Karlene had returned early from holiday to start work as cabin crew and in the rear of the Peugeot was eight-month-old Zackary. Ms Dowling said that Anderson was "taking photographs of his dashboard while speeding at 141mph". She continued: "After the picture was taken, the defendant collided with the Peugeot. The collision was catastrophic, killing instantly.
The court heard that Anderson also appeared uninjured, but was taken to hospital where he refused a blood test claiming to have a fear of needles, despite having tattoos. He then provided a urine sample which confirmed he was over the limit. In a heart-wrenching statement, Zackary's mother, Shalorna, described the unimaginable distress she felt as she looked for her baby among the wreckage as those in the public gallery broke down in tears. She told the court she had to pick her son's body up from the ground and that the deaths left an "irreparable hole in my heart".
Road Deaths Northern Ireland Durham Police Dangerous Driving Drink-Driving Audi
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