The grief-stricken family of a young boy who died in hospital after a crash with a drunk driver are making a desperate plea ahead of the Christmas holidays.
James Edds, 9, died at Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital on Saturday January 7 after he and his mother collided with a drunk driver on the Central Coast.
Driver Kristie Fiona Anne Merrett was almost four times the legal limit and pleaded guilty in October to aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death and causing bodily harm by misconduct.
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She was remanded in custody for sentencing.
James had been travelling with his mother to buy some new football boots with his Christmas money on January 4 when they collided with Merrett at Killarney Vale.
Now, the Edds family say Christmas will never be the same without James, and are issuing an urgent warning for drivers to take care this holiday season.
“It won’t be much of a Christmas at all … without James with us,” James’s stepfather Dean McNulty told 7NEWS.
“Now, when we go to Kmart, and we see little fellas … it just brings everything back … it’s not fair,” James’s grandmother Julie Edds added.
James’s family is one of 349 this year who will be spending Christmas without a loved one, due to a road death.
Julie is urging families to take care on the roads this Christmas.
“If you’ve had any alcohol, please don’t do it … just don’t do it,” she said.
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NSW Police warned that highway patrols will be out in full force and double demerits will apply.
“If you’re doing the wrong thing, expect the consequences that flow,” Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden told 7NEWS.
“There are no cautions and there’s no consideration for leniency.
“And if you know someone’s affected by drugs or alcohol, for god’s sake, don’t let them drive.”
Double demerits will be in force in NSW from 22 December 2023 until New Year’s Day on January 1, 2024.
