FAMILIES of two women who were killed in a horror crash in Ipswich have called for a change in the laws to target drink and drug drivers.

FAMILIES of two women who were killed in a horror crash in Ipswich have called for a change in the laws to target drink and drug drivers.

Friends Kate Wasyluk, 25, and Emma Harold, 26, died in February this year when a driver who had been drinking and had taken drugs ploughed into them on Foxhall Road as they were walking home from a night out.

Emma's sister Beccy, 25, was also seriously injured in the crash, for which driver Scott Nicholls, 20, was jailed for eight years and three months.

Yesterday, families of the crash victims spoke out at a conference organised by road safety campaign Brake and called for the drink-drive limit to be reduced.

Kate's mother Dot Richardson, 54, of Chelmondiston, near Ipswich, said: “I lost my daughter to a drink and drugs driver, in what I don't like to call an accident.

“The impact was tremendous, I had a breakdown.

“It has robbed me my daughter of her future. I will never see her married. I will never see her have children.

“It happened nine months ago and up until a month ago I've been living in a forgotten place, I wanted to do something positive to keep her memory alive.

“If there's anyway I can stop this happening to any other families, it is worth a try. If you can save one life, it will be worth it.”

She added: “The driver got just eight years and will be out in four. He's still young enough, still has his life. My life will never be the same.

“When will people stop taking drugs and drinking and then driving? When the law changes, that's when.”

Emma's sister Michelle Luetchford, 37, who lives near the scene of the accident, said: “What happened devastated my life, I want people to realise that one drink or one bit of drugs has an effect.

“The awareness a national charity can bring can only help get the message out.

“I needed to do something positive, I needed to push forward and get the message out.”

The fatal crash happened shortly after midnight on February 21, when a stolen car driven by disqualified, drink and drug driver Nicholls ploughed into the friends at 50mph in a 30mph zone.

Nicholls was found to be nearly twice the drink drive limit and to have ecstasy in his blood stream. He had taken heroin the day before.

Emma and Kate both died at the scene. Beccy sustained serious lower body injuries, internal bleeding and bruising to the brain.

Nicholls was convicted on two counts of causing death by dangerous driving as well as with driving whilst disqualified. He was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison.