Yorkshire Audi Q5 driver kills child and aunt in horror crash

A Rotherham man has admitted killing a little boy and his aunt in a horror crash.

Darryl Anderson, 38, was driving the Audi Q5 when it crashed into a Peugeot 308, killing eight-month-old Zackary Blades and 30-year-old Karlene Warner. The fatal collision happened between Chester-le-Street and Durham at around 3.15am on Friday 31 May.

Zackary’s mother, Shalorna Warner, who was driving a Peugeot, suffered minor injuries, Durham police said.

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Anderson, of Clarell Walk, Thorpe Hesley, Rotherham, appeared at Durham Crown Court via video link from prison on Monday and pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving. About 30 grieving relatives were in the public gallery to hear his confession.

Anderson denied illegally possessing a knife and ax at the time of the crash, and those not guilty pleas were accepted by the prosecution.

He will be sentenced on Tuesday, July 9.

Judge Joanne Kidd said the family had just heard some distressing details about the crash, which they were told after it was known Anderson would plead guilty.

They will have time to process what they have learned before making victim impact statements ahead of what the judge said will be a “very difficult hearing” for them next week. When the judge asked Richard Dawson, defending, if he had any comment to make, he replied: “Just to express our sympathy and condolences to those who have been bereaved in this case.”

Anderson was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing. After the accident, Shalorna Warner and Zackary’s father, Jack Blades, paid tribute to their son. They said, “I’m so sorry you never got to grow up. Our little Zack – mommy and daddy love you so much, you didn’t deserve any of this.

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“You were such a happy and cheeky boy. I am so sorry this has happened – our hearts are truly broken. We will never forget you, you will always be in our hearts.”

The family also paid tribute to Mrs Warner, saying: “How do we put into words the amazing mother, partner, daughter, sister, niece, aunt, niece and friend that Karlene was? You lit up every room you walked into like the shining diamond that you were.

“You had so much to look forward to in life and that was taken away.”