Latest news with #SuzukiCelerio
The Independent
14-03-2025
- The Independent
Drunk, high driver was on bail when he killed a much loved father - the victim's family now want tougher laws
The family of a man who was killed by a driver high on drugs and alcohol out on bail have sent a letter to the government calling for the use of roadside saliva drug-tests to take dangerous drivers off the road. Linzi Stewart, 49, has written to the Home Office to update legislation to allow roadside saliva samples to be used as evidence to prosecute drug drivers and take them off the road - rather than having to wait for a blood sample to be processed. Her brother, Tim Burgess, 48, was the passenger in a car driven by his girlfriend on 18 July last year, when Joshua Eldred, 31, ploughed straight into the car while on the wrong side of the road, and under the influence of alcohol and cocaine. After his death, Mr Burgess's family were shocked to find that Eldred had a previous driving conviction from three years earlier, and had been arrested just days before on suspicion of crashing into a parked car and fleeing the scene. He had been released on bail - with a valid driving licence - while police waited for the results of his blood tests, which later showed he had taken cocaine and drunk alcohol. Mr Burgess's family have said his death could have been prevented if a faster saliva test could have been used as evidence in court instead of the required blood test or his licence been revoked. 'Under current law, police must then obtain an evidential blood sample, which is not always possible. Even when it is, there is a shocking delay of up to six months before the results return from the laboratory - during which time the drug driver is free to continue driving,' Ms Stewart wrote in the letter to the Home Office. 'We firmly believe that the failings in this time-consuming and flawed system played a significant role in Tim's tragic and needless death.' Countries such as Australia and France are already using evidential saliva roadside testing. Ms Stewart is also calling for the government to implement stronger laws to include dangerous drivers to either have their licence revoked or be remanded in custody. After launching a petition signed by over 157,000 people, Ms Stewart is calling for action - and is hoping to bring her petition to No10 in the near future. 'When the police said he had been arrested before our mouths dropped,' Tim's sister, Linzi Stewart, 49, from the Wirral, told The Independent. 'We were shocked and horrified. Why was this man allowed on the road?' She added: 'He was released on bail and free to get back behind a wheel and offend again. And then my brother died.' Tim, the 'gentle and kind' father of 15-year-old Lillianna, was a much-loved house music DJ before his death last year. He was sat in the passenger seat of a Suzuki Celerio driven by his girlfriend, Wendy Wall, when Eldred drove into them at more than 65mph on A533 Runcorn Road, Little Leigh, at about 9.15am. Minutes later, he died in Wendy's lap. Eldred was sentenced to 12 years in prison at Chester Crown Court on October 25 2024 after pleading guilty to causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving. He has also been banned from driving for 10 years, after which he will be required to complete an extended driving test. 'We started the petition because we need the government to do something urgently. The system is just not good enough and needs reviewing for dangerous drivers - there is too much complacency around road deaths,' Ms Stewart said. 'The months since Tim's death have been horrific. It is so painful. But we can't just sit here and do nothing, we want to make a change.' A Department for Transport spokesperson said: 'We take road safety extremely seriously, and there are already strict penalties in place for those who are caught drink or drug driving. 'We are committed to improving road safety, and our well-established THINK! campaign is designed to reduce the number of those killed and injured on our roads."
Yahoo
26-01-2025
- Yahoo
Woman who died after police car crash is named
A woman who died with her dog following a crash involving a police car has been named. Grandmother Sharron Hall, 64, was driving a Suzuki Celerio when it was involved in the crash in Cleator Moor Road, Whitehaven, at about 07:50 GMT on 19 January. Ms Hall, who died in hospital the next day, has been described by her family as a "special, caring woman who would give her help willingly to anyone who asked for it". A police officer has been informed they will be subject to a criminal investigation and are under internal investigation for potential gross misconduct, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said. This does not necessarily mean any proceedings will follow as it will depend on the evidence established from the investigation, the IOPC said. An initial investigation found three officers had been responding to an emergency call and travelling in separate vehicles at the same time Ms Hall was driving. The second police vehicle, a Peugeot 308 estate, collided with Ms Hall's car. Cumbria Police has been approached for comment. Ms Hall had worked at Howgill Family Centre in Cleator Moor for more than 20 years, "which she loved", her family said in a statement. "She was a keen animal lover and you very rarely saw her without her little dog Jack, who also sadly passed away in the collision," they said.. "She had a full and joyful life which was full of love and she will be sorely missed by her family and friends, especially by her four children, Andrew, Samantha, Mark and Tracy." The IOPC said it had offered Ms Hall's family support and had outlined the next steps of the investigation. "There is a mandatory requirement for forces to refer to us incidents like this, which result in death or serious injury," director of engagement Amanda Rowe said. "Our investigation will thoroughly examine the circumstances of the police involvement." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@ Two hospitalised after police car crash Woman, 64, dies after police car crash Cumbria Police Independent Office for Police Conduct
BBC News
26-01-2025
- BBC News
Whitehaven woman who died after police car crash is named
A woman who died with her dog following a crash involving a police car has been named. Grandmother Sharron Hall, 64, was driving a Suzuki Celerio when it was involved in the crash in Cleator Moor Road, Whitehaven, at about 07:50 GMT on 19 January. Ms Hall, who died in hospital the next day, has been described by her family as a "special, caring woman who would give her help willingly to anyone who asked for it".A police officer has been informed they will be subject to a criminal investigation and are under internal investigation for potential gross misconduct, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said. This does not necessarily mean any proceedings will follow as it will depend on the evidence established from the investigation, the IOPC initial investigation found three officers had been responding to an emergency call and travelling in separate vehicles at the same time Ms Hall was second police vehicle, a Peugeot 308 estate, collided with Ms Hall's Police has been approached for comment. 'Sorely missed' Ms Hall had worked at Howgill Family Centre in Cleator Moor for more than 20 years, "which she loved", her family said in a statement. "She was a keen animal lover and you very rarely saw her without her little dog Jack, who also sadly passed away in the collision," they said.."She had a full and joyful life which was full of love and she will be sorely missed by her family and friends, especially by her four children, Andrew, Samantha, Mark and Tracy." The IOPC said it had offered Ms Hall's family support and had outlined the next steps of the investigation."There is a mandatory requirement for forces to refer to us incidents like this, which result in death or serious injury," director of engagement Amanda Rowe said."Our investigation will thoroughly examine the circumstances of the police involvement."
