Family calls for tougher sentences for drivers who kill

The family of a hairdresser and his daughter who were killed on a roadside verge in East Kent by a motorist, who admitted careless driving in court, have begun a campaign for stiffer penalties for drivers responsible for road deaths.

Valentino Coleman and his daughter Olivia Coleman died in a car accident on the Thanet Way in October 2017.

He had driven to the spot near Manston to help Olivia's sister Grace whose car had broken down.

Both vehicles had their hazard lights on and a breakdown recovery vehicle had flashing lights.

However, a van driver hit Valentino's car sending the vehicle towards him and Olivia, the father and daughter died.

The motorist who killed them was convicted of careless driving, but he walked free from court, having been given a suspended sentence.

Now Valentino Coleman's wife, Nicola, is calling for a change in the law.

• Watch Tony Green's full report below:

Interviewees: Nicola Coleman & John Sharp, Nicola's father & Victoria Lebrec, RoadPeace

The driver was put on trial for causing by death by dangerous driving - an offence with a maximum sentence of 14 years.

However a jury decided to convict him of the lesser charge of causing death by careless driving which has a maximum sentence of five years.

The judge at Canterbury Crown Court gave the driver a suspended sentence, something Nicola Coleman says should never happen again.

The family have launched a petition calling for tougher sentences for drivers who kill.

There have been more than 1,500 signatures.