Drunken driver who snapped photo going 141 mph before deadly collision imprisoned for 17 years
Darryl Anderson was drunk behind the wheel of his Audi SUV, had his accelerator pressed to the floor and was barreling toward a car ahead of him when he snapped a photo of his speedometer. The picture showed a car in the foreground, a collision warning light on his dashboard and a speed of 141 mph (227 kph).
An instant later, he slammed into the car in the photo. The driver, Shalorna Warner, was not seriously injured but her 8-month-old son and her sister were killed instantly, authorities said. Evidence showed Anderson never braked.
Anderson, 38, was sentenced Tuesday to 17 years in prison for the May 31 crash in northern England that killed little Zackary Blades and Karlene Warner. Anderson pleaded guilty last week in Durham Crown Court to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.
People get life sentences in the UK (where this apparently happened) for a double murder, and this wasn't an accident. He chose to do these things and it resulted in 2 dead children. I don't rule this fair and just.
I don't think you'd get many years for a double murder here, either. I just don't think it's a deserved punishment if the precedence for the UK is that you do get 20+ years for a double murder. Personally I would've given him 10 years of community service, make him do a public speech at the town square about the dangers of drunk driving and then barred him from ever driving again. Prison just makes people bitter and should be reserved for people who are an active threat to other people which this man presumably wouldn't be without a driving license.
The driver of the car that was hit not getting seriously injured despite getting rear ended full force at 141mph is a miracle. Obviously can’t say the same for the kids in the backseat as they got the full brunt of the collision, but it kinda shows how crumple zones are effective at protecting vehicle occupants, the driver in this case.