Heartbroken mother warns against mixing drink or drugs with driving
Grieving mother Rachel Docherty is backing a Christmas drink/drug driving campaign after losing her own teenage son in a devastating car smash earlier this year.
The mother-of-five is throwing her support behind Road Safety GB North East’s (RSGB NE) seasonal campaign to reduce road casualties following the death of her 17-year-old son James Docherty.
James, known affectionately as Jamesey Boy to his family, had just enjoyed his first ever night out in Newcastle city centre and was making his way home to Gateshead as a passenger in his friend’s car. However, he never made it back.
His friend Tyrone Quinn lost control of the BMW, causing it to clip the curb and flip, before landing on its roof near Askew Road in Gateshead, near the Redheugh Bridge. James suffered massive head injuries and died at the scene.
“I will never forget the moment the police knocked on the door to tell me James had died – life changed at that moment. I couldn’t breathe. I didn’t want to accept it was true.”
She added:
“James looked lovely before he went out that night, all dressed up, and I remember feeling really proud. Now I just feel pain.
“If you are thinking of drinking or taking drugs and then getting behind the wheel of a car – think again. You may have done it before and been fine, but it only takes once. No mother should have to bury their child. James should have turned 18 in September, but instead of celebrating we visited the cemetery. It’s been devastating.”
Rachel, 33, is backing RSGB NE’s drink/drug driving campaign, which is backed by Police and fire services from across the region. The road safety group is urging people to leave their car keys at home if going out drinking this festive period, and to plan lifts home. Police are also warning that patrols are being stepped up and any motorists found to be driving under the influence will face the courts.
Rachel will be with road safety officers and police officers from Northumbria Police, talking to students about the dangers of driving under the influence.
Quinn, 20, also of Felling, Gateshead, was jailed for six years after pleading guilty to causing the death of James by dangerous driving while disqualified, causing death by driving while uninsured, driving with excess alcohol and being over the limit for drugs.
The court heard when he smashed the powerful BMW he had been drinking alcohol and was more than three times over the drug drive limit for cocaine.
In the five years between 2011 and 2015:
Northumbria Police Motor Patrols Chief Inspector Dave Guthrie said: