A family has paid tribute to a baby boy killed in a horror car crash on what would have been his first birthday this month.
Zackary Blades, died alongside his aunty Karlene Warner, 30, earlier this year on the A1 (M) in County Durham after Darryl Anderson, 38, crashed into the back of them at 140mph.
The young baby was sat in the back of the car and was flung 160ft from the car and killed while Karlene also died at the scene.
Karlene’s sister and mum to Zackary, Shalorna, was also in the car after picking Karlene up from Newcastle Airport after her first shift as a TUI air hostess.
Anderson was jailed for 17 years after it was found he was three times over the drink-drive limit and had taken a picture of his speedometer moments before the crash.
Zackary’s loved ones marked what would have been his first birthday on September 12 by fundraising on Saturday.
They hope to raise £70,000 to build what they have called a ‘Together Room’ at Darlington Memorial Hospital – allowing families to be together during times of crisis and grief.
Shalorna said: ‘It is really hard.
‘Things like this keep you busy and stop you thinking about things but the reality is that they are both not here.
‘Karlene was such a protective big sister and also an amazing mum. One positive is I know that Karlene will be taking good care of Zackary – I’ve always said that.
‘This is why we have called our charity Together – because they are together. That’s the one positive thing to take from this.’
She added: ‘It’s hard being here. I love seeing kids and being a mam but I always think that should have been my son.’
Zackary’s grandmother Alison, 59, is also set to take on a bike ride dubbed ‘Granny on a bike’ from southern France all the way back to Darlington as part of an effort to raise funds for the cause.
‘This week has been the hardest week of my life since the incident,’ Alison said.
‘We had the funeral, court case, and sentencing.
‘But, it never felt real until we came back to the UK. Karlene would always be so excited to see me. But, the reality is that she isn’t here. They both aren’t here.
‘My bike ride will be a challenge and I know it will be hard, but the real challenge now is going through our lives without Karlene and Zackary every day.’
Alison’s husband Nigel said: ‘I am proud to be her father.
‘And then there’s baby Zack. He was always smiling, and laughing. He could have grown up and been somebody and done something with his life.
‘He was always happy and was a mam’s boy, stuck to her hip like a little monkey. The last time I saw him that’s where he was – sucking on his dummy and smiling.
‘Zackary was such a wonderful child.’
Alongside their fundraising, the family also set up a petition in hopes of introducing a mandatory lifelong driving ban for deaths caused by dangerous driving.
The petition is now close to 76,000 signatures and has been backed by Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen who has promised to do everything possible to support the campaign and raise the issue nationally.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
