A man who was nearly three times the legal drink-drive limit when he crashed at 141mph, killing an eight-month-old baby and the baby's aunt, has been sentenced to 17 years and three months in prison. Darryl Anderson, 38, admitted two counts of causing death by dangerous driving after the collision on the A1 near Chester-le-Street on 31 May.
The court heard that Anderson had been driving his Audi Q5 erratically from Newcastle airport after drinking on a flight home from a holiday. He was travelling at 141mph when he rear-ended a Peugeot 308, throwing baby Zackary Blades from his car seat onto the opposite carriageway. The baby's aunt, Karlene Warner, 30, was also killed instantly. The baby's mother, Shalorna Warner, who was driving the Peugeot, suffered minor injuries.
Police found a photo on Anderson's phone showing his speedometer moments before the crash, as well as an empty vodka bottle in his car. A breath test recorded 95mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath, against the legal limit of 35mg. The Audi's computer showed Anderson did not brake before impact and that a collision warning light was illuminated.
Judge Joanne Kidd told Anderson he had been playing 'Russian roulette' with other drivers' lives. In addition to the prison term, he was banned from driving for 21 and a half years after his release. Anderson, from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, had told police: 'Sometimes mistakes happen. But I'm not a bad person.'
