Relatives of Man Killed by Impaired Driver Advocate for Legal Reforms

The relatives of a single father, who died after being hit by a driver under the influence of cocaine and alcohol and out on bail for a prior incident, are demanding legislative amendments. On 18 July, Joshua Eldred, 31, was operating a vehicle at speeds exceeding 65mph (104km/h) on the incorrect side of the thoroughfare when his car collided with a Suzuki Celerio occupied by Tim Burgess, 48, in Little Leigh, Cheshire. Mr. Burgess, a resident of Frodsham, succumbed to his injuries while in the embrace of his girlfriend, Wendy Wall, who was piloting the Suzuki and sustained severe wounds herself. Subsequently, it was revealed that Eldred had been apprehended on suspicion of dangerous driving following an accident 10 days prior, during which he had also consumed alcohol and illicit substances. Mr. Burgess’s relatives voiced their concerns upon discovering that Eldred maintained a valid driving licence notwithstanding the earlier collision. On 25 October, Eldred received a 12-year prison sentence at Chester Crown Court, having admitted guilt to charges of causing death and serious injury through dangerous driving. Linzi Stewart, 49, Mr. Burgess’s sister, initiated a petition urging the government to modify legislation, proposing that individuals accused of dangerous driving should have their licences instantly suspended, awaiting trial and sentencing. Furthermore, the petition advocates for repeat dangerous driving offenders to be held in custody or subjected to strict supervision if granted release, accumulating over 68,000 endorsements to date. Ms. Stewart stated, “If he had been remanded in custody, Tim would possibly still be alive.” “Christmas is coming up and he was always the first one to say Merry Christmas in the morning.” “You have to get on with it for the kids, but it’s just going to be a day filled with pain really.” Following Mr. Burgess’s death, Ms. Stewart expressed her astonishment upon discovering that Eldred had collided with a stationary vehicle on Mount Pleasant Road, Davenham, on 8 July, subsequently absconding from the location. He was granted bail and possessed a current driving licence as law enforcement awaited the outcomes of his blood analysis, which verified his consumption of alcohol and cocaine. Ms. Stewart commented, “Wendy’s got to live with Tim dying in her lap for the rest of her life, and she suffered serious injuries which she’s still recovering from,” “It’s just all gone, just like that, and he’s left his 15-year-old daughter.” “My family have been totally destroyed by it…” “We’ve never really known grief like this before. The shock is horrific and I still cry most days.” Ms. Stewart recounted that Mr. Burgess was engaged in a video conversation with his daughter at the moment of the collision, and she remained connected when officers located his mobile device in a hedge. Notwithstanding the profound destruction resulting from the accident, Ms. Stewart affirmed that she holds no animosity towards Eldred. She added, “Us as a family sympathise with Mr Eldred’s family and I truly believe he is remorseful about what happened,” “What I do feel is that something needs to change regarding the law.” “People speeding, on their phones, drink driving – that’s what needs to change.” Inspector Steve Griffiths, from Cheshire Police’s serious and complex collision investigation unit, commented: “Eldred’s actions have devastated the lives of all those involved, and the tragic death of Timothy Burgess shows the catastrophic consequences that will happen when these rules are ignored.” Further details were supplied by the Press Association. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.