Crime

British Drunk Driver Jailed After High-Speed Crash Kills Baby and Sister

Published

5 months ago

July 9, 2024

Sharlona Warner (on the right in the left-hand image) described frantically searching for her baby son Zackary after he was thrown from their car (Picture: PA)

A mother was left frantically searching a motorway for her eight-month-old son after he was ejected from her car during a collision with a drunk driver travelling at 140mph, a court heard.

Darryl Anderson, 38, was found to be three times over the legal alcohol limit and had taken a photo of his speedometer showing 141mph just moments before crashing into Sharlona Warner’s car on the A1 on May 31.

Undated Durham Police handout photo of Zackary Blades, who was killed when the car he was travelling in was hit by Darryl Anderson's Audi Q5. Anderson was almost three times over the limit and who took a photo of his speedometer showing 141mph moments before he crashed into a car killing Zackary Blades and his aunt Karlene Warner. He has been jailed for more than 17 years. Issue date: Tuesday July 9, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story COURTS Aunt. Photo credit should read: Durham Police/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.

Sharlona Warner, the mother of eight-month-old Zackary Blades speaks to the media alongside Detective Constable Natalie Horner outside Durham Crown Court, after Darryl Anderson, 38, was sentenced to 17 years and three months after admitting causing the death by dangerous driving of her son and his aunt 30-year-old Karlene Warner, after the Audi Q5 he was driving crashed into the Peugeot 308 being driven by Sharlona Warner between Chester-le-Street and Durham at around 3.15am on Friday May 31. Picture date: Tuesday July 9, 2024. PA Photo. Anderson, of Clarell Walk, Thorpe Hesley, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, admitted two counts of causing death by dangerous driving at a hearing at Durham Crown Court last week. Around 30 devastated family members of the two victims were in court for the hearing. See PA story COURTS Aunt . Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

Sharlona Warner (centre right), the mother of eight-month-old Zackary Blades is hugged by a supporter after speaking to the media outside Durham Crown Court, after Darryl Anderson, 38, was sentenced to 17 years and three months after admitting causing the death by dangerous driving of her son and his aunt 30-year-old Karlene Warner, after the Audi Q5 he was driving crashed into the Peugeot 308 being driven by Sharlona Warner between Chester-le-Street and Durham at around 3.15am on Friday May 31. Picture date: Tuesday July 9, 2024. PA Photo. Anderson, of Clarell Walk, Thorpe Hesley, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, admitted two counts of causing death by dangerous driving at a hearing at Durham Crown Court last week. Around 30 devastated family members of the two victims were in court for the hearing. See PA story COURTS Aunt . Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

Ms Warner’s baby son, Zackary Blades, was thrown from her Peugeot 308 in the impact, which also propelled her sister, Karlene, from the back seat into the front airbags, killing both instantly.

Durham Crown Court heard how a lorry driver later found Zackary’s body on a verge bordering the opposite carriageway. Ms Warner was seen desperately trying to wave down traffic, screaming her son’s name.

Wiping tears as she read a victim impact statement, Ms Warner recalled, “I ran to the left rear side of the car where Zackary would have been, but there was no back of the car; it was crushed. I could not see my baby… I was screaming his name, and I called 999.”

Ms Warner described how Anderson failed to help her search for her son. “He did not help; he never helped. I began running up to the traffic, waving my arms and screaming at cars to help me.”

Undated Durham Police handout photo of flight attendant Karlene Warner, who was killed when the car she was travelling in was hit by Darryl Anderson's Audi Q5. Anderson was almost three times over the limit and who took a photo of his speedometer showing 141mph moments before he crashed into a car killing Karlene Warner and her nephew Zackary Blades. He has been jailed for more than 17 years. Issue date: Tuesday July 9, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story COURTS Aunt. Photo credit should read: Durham Police/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.

Ms Warner’s sister, flight attendant Karlene Warner, was also killed (Picture: Durham Police/PA.

The court heard Anderson had been driving erratically in his Audi Q5 after drinking excessively on a flight back from a holiday following a dispute with his wife. Coincidentally, Ms. Warner had picked up her sister, a flight attendant, from the same airport.

Anderson, from Thorpe Hesley, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, admitted two counts of causing death by dangerous driving. Judge Joanne Kidd sentenced him to 17 years and three months in prison, with a driving ban of 21-and-a-half years upon release.

Approximately 50 friends and family members of the victims attended the sentencing. Judge Kidd criticized Andcriticizedplaying “Russian roulette” with the lives of other drivers, stating a fatal crash was inevitable.

Undated Durham Police handout photo of Darryl Anderson, who was almost three times over the limit and who took a photo of his speedometer showing 141mph moments before he crashed into a car killing a baby and his aunt has been jailed for more than 17 years. Issue date: Tuesday July 9, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story COURTS Aunt. Photo credit should read: Durham Police/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.

Darryl Anderson, who was almost three times over the limit and who took a photo of his speedometer showing 141mph moments before the crash (Picture: Durham Police/PA)

Anderson was breathalyzed breathalyzer, recording 95mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath, far above the legal limit of 35mg. Police also found an empty vodka bottle in his car.

Evidence showed that Anderson was using WhatsApp while driving and took a photo showing his speedometer at 141mph with Ms Warner’s car visible just before the crash. Analysis of his Audi computer revealed he had the accelerator fully depressed, did not brake before impact, and a collision warning light was on the dashboard.