Reckless driver who killed ‘cheeky’ eight-month-old baby boy and his aunt in horror crash is jailed
A DRIVER who killed an eight-month-old baby and his aunt in a horror crash has been jailed.
Zackary Blades and Karlene Walker, 30, were travelling on the A1 in County Durham when Darryl Anderson ploughed into their car.
Tragically the pair could not be saved and were both declared dead at the scene.
Anderson, 38, was today jailed for 17 years and three months after he pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.
He denied unlawfully possessing a knife and an axe at the time of the crash, with his plea accepted by prosecutors.
The horror unfolded on May 31 as Zackary’s mum drove her baby son and Karlene in her Peugeot 308.
Anderson, who was travelling in an Audi Q5, crashed into the trio – killing both Zackary and his aunt.
His mum Shalorna Warner suffered minor injuries in the tragic crash.
She and Zackary’s dad later paid tribute to their son, saying: “I’m so sorry you never got to grow up.
“Our little Zack – mammy and daddy love you so much, you didn’t deserve any of this.
“You were such a happy, cheeky boy.
“I am so sorry this has happened – our hearts are truly broken. We will never forget you, you will always be in our hearts.”
The family also paid tribute to Karlene, saying: “How do we put into words to describe the amazing mother, partner, daughter, sister, granddaughter, auntie, niece, and friend Karlene was?
“You light up every room you walked into like the bright shining diamond that you were.
“You had so much to look forward to in life and that has been taken.”