Family from Cornwall launch petition for tougher hit-and-run sentences

A petition has launched to bring in tougher sentences for hit-and-run drivers, after the death of a young dad from Cornwall.

31-year-old Ryan Saltern lost his life after being hit by a car in St Teath last summer.

It is understood that he was lying in the road before the collision.

The incident was reported to police 36-hours after it happened.

The driver pleaded guilty to failing to stop and report an accident. He was handed a four month suspended sentence and given a 12 month driving ban at Bodmin Magistrate's Court last month.

Now Ryan's family are calling for a new stand-alone law for hit-and-run drivers, with a custodial sentence that cannot be suspended.

They have launched a petition which has been signed by over 30,000 people so far.

It needs 100,000 signatures to go before parliament and be debated.

Ryan's dad, Mark Saltern, told Pirate FM he hopes no other family has to experience the same grief and pain.

"It's been a living nightmare for the whole family.

"Ryan obviously wasn't just our son, he was a brother, a husband, a dad, an uncle, a nephew, a brother-in-law, son-in-law, and a grandson. He had such an amazing circle off friends who have been so supportive.

"We couldn't be prouder of Ryan and the man he became.

"He would help literally anyone, he did so much in his short life, so much for charities, he loved his sport, especially football and had a great circle of friends with football.

"He was a loving husband to Cath his wife, fantastic dad to their son Harry, and a role model for him, they had the perfect little family, and it's totally been destroyed.

"Ryan never had a bad bone in his body."

Mark Saltern, Ryan's dad

The current law means that hit-and-run drivers face a maximum sentence of six months, where there is no other evidence of careless or dangerous driving.