The parents of Lucy Duggan have said the horrific car accident that ended her life has ‘rocked their world’. Their heartfelt statement comes as Martin Li, who was driving the car in which 18-year-old Lucy was a passenger, is beginning an eight-year jail sentence for causing the nursery worker’s death. Newcastle Crown Court heard how Li had smoked cannabis and driven at speeds of up to 130mph before colliding with another car in the village of Dilston, near Hexham, on August 25. Northumbria Police compared the 22-year-old’s driving to a game of Russian roulette. In the statement, Ralph and Barbara Duggan said: The devastating accident that took our wonderful daughter from us on that Sunday has rocked our world and shattered so many precious dreams. Lucy loved life and lived it to the full. Her constant smile brought sunshine into the lives of all she met. She lived her life in full confidence that everything would be ok and we have tried to draw from her positive outlook to get us through. The support that our family, friends and the wonderful community we live in have shown us, has been amazing and given us great strength. Lucy was always there when we needed support and we have been left feeling helpless without her. May the sunshine in her outlook of life give us all strength to carry on without her. Sergeant Phil Patterson, of Northumbria Police, added that Li’s driving was the worst he had investigated in his 15-year career. He said: Lucy Duggan died as a result of the actions of Martin Li. He had a total disregard for other peoples safety and his driving was the equivalent to playing Russian roulette, driving at speed on the wrong side of the road on a blind bend. He is now serving a considerable sentence and has been banned for ten years. I hope this sentence serves as a strong deterrent to young drivers who drive like Martin Li on a daily basis and put other peoples lives at risk. While this is a significant sentence, it does not reflect the loss suffered by Lucys family and the life changing affect this has had on the other four people who were seriously injured. Id like to remind people that we also have the facility to monitor social media sites to seek out examples of bad driving and we will wherever possible take proactive action against those responsible which could see them sent to jail and disqualified from driving. Li pleaded guilty to one count of causing death by dangerous driving, four counts causing injury by dangerous driving and one count of making a false statement to obtain insurance at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday, November 11. Jailing him for eight years for causing Lucys death, His Honour Judge Evans said: You killed someone needlessly and selfishly. You have to live with that fact for the rest of your life. If it haunts you for the rest of your life no-one would shed a tear.
Posted on: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 17:34:42 +0000
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