A man who killed an eight-month-old boy and his 30-year-old aunt after crashing his car into theirs has admitted two charges of causing death by dangerous driving.
Darryl Anderson, 38, was at the wheel of his Audi Q5 when it crashed into a Peugeot 308, killing Zackary Blades and Karlene Warner, on the A1 in County Durham on May 31.
Zackary’s mother, Shalorna Warner, was driving the Peugeot at the time of the fatal collision between Chester-le-Street and Durham at around 3.15am.
She suffered minor injuries, Durham police said.
Anderson, of Clarell Walk, Thorpe Hesley, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, appeared at Durham Crown Court via video link from prison and pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.
Around 30 grieving relatives were in the public gallery to hear him confess.
Denial of gun ownership
Anderson denied illegally possessing a knife and an ax at the time of the accident and his declarations of innocence were accepted by the prosecution.
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After the accident, Shalorna Warner and Zackary’s father, Jack Blades, paid tribute to their son.
“I’m sorry you never grew up,” they said.
“Our little Zack – Mom and Dad love you so much, you didn’t deserve any of this. You were such a happy, cheeky boy.
“I am so sorry this happened – our hearts are truly broken. We will never forget you, you will always be in our hearts.”
‘Very difficult audition’
The family also paid tribute to Warner, saying: “How can we put into words what an incredible mother, partner, daughter, sister, granddaughter, aunt, niece and friend Karlene was?
‘You light up every room you walk into like the shining diamond you were. You had so much to hope for in life and it was taken away.
The family were only told some disturbing details about the crash after it became known Anderson would plead guilty, Judge Joanne Kidd said.
They will have time to process what they learned before making victim statements ahead of what she called a “very difficult hearing” for them next week.
When the judge asked Richard Dawson, the defender, if he had any comments to make, he replied: “Just to express our sympathy and condolences to those who have been bereaved in this case.”
Anderson was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing, which will take place on July 9.
This story originally appeared on News.sky.com read the full story
