Heart-breaking story shared to deter drink driving this Christmas
Avon and Somerset Police will be out in numbers checking drivers over the festive break
Last updated 22nd Dec 2023
If you go out for a drink at any point this Christmas, NEVER get behind the wheel of a car afterwards.
Avon and Somerset Police are sharing the stories of several people impacted by drink driving, as they continue their campaign Operation Tonic, targeting drink and drug drivers this festive season.
In 2021 drink and or drugs were a factor in a third of car crashes, killing 12 people in the region.
Officers say they will be out in force over the next few weeks checking the state of people on the roads.
Sarah Baker
In August last year 29-year-old Sarah Baker was driving from London to Somerset to visit a friend, when she was hit by a drunk driver.
Minutes before the crash Anton Hull (21), from Somerset, was filming himself joking that he was "smashed".
He had been drinking in a pub that evening.
The 21-year-old, of Galhampton, pleaded guilty to one count of causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced to six years in prison.
He was also handed a nine year ban from driving and will have to pass an extended re-test before being allowed to drive again.
To deter others from making the wrong decision this Christmas, her sister Christina and brother Jack have spoken out about the impact Sarah's death has had.
"There is never a day where it doesn't cross my mind more than once," Jack said.
"She really had an ability to kind of, make you feel deeply heard and understood and I don't feel that's a skill that many people can say they have."
"We were a really close family," Christina said.
"Everyone just knew us as Christina, Sarah and Jack..."
The trio chose to live together in London after finishing university.
On the night Sarah was killed, she left home having been helping Christina care for her new born baby Cameron.
"I think I was awake feeding Cameron when the police came," Christina said.
"It was the middle of the night, early hours of the morning and I just heard knocking and the doorbell going."
She said her initial thought was someone must have the wrong house.
"It was as soon as I got down here in this room and I saw that policeman," said Jack.
"Something in me knew what had happened."
"I think I just remember saying no like a million times," said Christina.
"I was just like, no, no, no it can't be happening...
"You just want someone to make it better and no one was going to make it better."
The message
"People have a tendency to believe that it won't ever be them," Jack said.
"People believe it won't happen to me.
"You know, 'I've done it before', or maybe they haven't, but it only takes one time to have your life ruined, or someone else's life ruined."
Inspector Rob Barker, Roads Policing lead at Avon and Somerset Police said: "If you know someone that regularly drinks or takes drugs and gets behind the wheel, then your action- or inaction – could make a real difference to the wellbeing of other road users.
“Your report could prevent serious consequences by helping us take a dangerous and irresponsible driver off the road before they can cause harm.
“During December, we’ll be actively targeting motorists who pose a risk to others by choosing to drink and drug drive, as well as carrying out proactive stop checks at key roadside locations both day and night.”
Speaking during the sentencing of Anton Hull, Judge Edward Burgess said: "Words cannot do justice to the enormity and needless tragedy of this incident."
Causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of drink/drugs carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.