Lauren Danks: Grieving family backs Suffolk police campaign against drink-driving after drunk-driver jailed over daughter’s death
Lauren Danks with her mum Claire, father Robert, and brothers Kieran, Bobby and Jayden - Credit: Archant
Time has stood still for Lauren Danks’ family since the 22-year-old’s death due to the reckless actions of Suffolk drink-driver Nelson Curtis.
Nelson Curtis, who has been jailed for seven years - Credit: Archant
Although still struggling to come to terms with losing the beauty therapist in a crash last November, her father Robert, and mother Claire, today backed Suffolk Constabulary’s year-round war on drink-driving.
Throughout the years there have been many warnings about the dangers. However, rarely have the brutally raw consequences of losing a loved one been so powerfully expressed.
After three-time drink-driver Curtis, 64, of High Street, Lakenheath, was jailed for seven years at Ipswich Crown Court last week, Mr and Mrs Danks gave permission for their victim personal statements to be published.
They did so in the hope of deterring people from driving while drunk.
The Jaguar driven by Nelson Curtis. Picture: SUFFOLK CONSTABULARY - Credit: Archant
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Curtis was more than twice the drink-drive limit and travelling at 124mph before colliding with Lauren’s car on the A11 at Barton Mills. He then drove away on three wheels without going to her aid. Curtis admitted causing death by dangerous driving.
Mr and Mrs Danks, of Soham, said: “We’re having to cope with the devastating consequences of losing our beloved daughter - we’d urge anyone to think twice before drinking and driving. We don’t want anyone else to suffer in the way our family has.”
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Chief Inspector David Giles, of Suffolk’s serious collision investigation team, said: “We actively target drink drivers 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with specific campaigns at key times during the year. Sadly there are still those who get behind get behind the wheel after drinking despite the work we do with partners to educate and enforce.
“Lauren’s case tragically highlights the consequences of drinking and driving. We would ask anyone even thinking about getting behind the wheel after drinking to think about how they would feel if their closest friend or family member was killed through the actions of a drunk driver. Lauren’s family have had to deal with the loss and they don’t want any other family to have to go through what they have been through.”
The Government is currently considering increasing the maximum sentence for drink-drivers who kill from 14 years to life imprisonment.
