16 October 2023 , 14:48
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A mum has issued a plea to young drivers after her son was killed as his friend drank a can of cider behind the wheel before they crashed.
Emma Hughes, 35, said she could never forgive Ricky Davies, 31, who filmed himself on Snapchat as he sped on the wrong side of the road with her son Dafydd Hughes, 18, in the car. Dafydd endured severe head injuries after his intoxicated pal crashed his Ford Focus head-on into another car in Shirenewton, Monmouthshire last year. Dafydd sadly passed away at the scene.
Davies admitted six charges including death by dangerous driving and was jailed for eight years. He binged on alcohol and drugs on the weekend when he picked up Dafydd from his home in Caerphilly as they headed to a dog show.
Dafydd died at the mere age of 18 (WALES NEWS SERVICE)
Dafydd's grandad told him not to get in the car (WALES NEWS SERVICE)Ms Hughes said she is "still numb" from the tragedy and said her son should have never got into the car. She told the BBC : "Dafydd, like most young boys, thought he was invincible, and made the wrong choice getting in the car that morning. But it wasn't Dafydd's choice for Ricky to drink all day, to speed or be on the wrong side of the road. I'll never forgive Ricky for driving that day and in the state he was in."
Ricky Davies was handed an eight-year prison sentence (WALES NEWS SERVICE)
Davies was filmed behind the wheel (WALES NEWS SERVICE)Dafydd's grandfather Dai said he "begged" him not to get into the Ford Focus, but Ms Hughes said he "wouldn't listen." She explained that he "never ever wore a seatbelt" and added: "If one person could listen and not do what they were doing then their families won't feel what we feel every day. I want young people to realise the damage that can be done, even if they're not driving and in the car with somebody who hasn't got a licence and is not responsible enough to be driving. Please don't go with them."
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Davies was caught purchasing cider on CCTV (WALES NEWS SERVICE)Davies, who didn't have a driver's license, was captured on camera moments before his friend was killed. The driver also endured "serious injuries" and was found to be double the limit. He also had cannabis in his system. The Snapchat videos showed him intoxicated as he gripped onto a can of cider behind the wheel. He also admitted to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, drink driving, driving without insurance and without a licence.