Driver jailed as mum killed in front of daughters

A dangerous and drunk driver who fled from the scene of a collision in Barrowby Road, Grantham this year has been sentenced to 10 years and eight months in prison.

Ashley Towning was almost four times over the legal limit and under the influence of drugs. It was highly likely that he was using his phone when he mounted a kerb and ploughed into Lijuan Wu and her two daughters just before 6.40pm on Thursday, 8 August. He bolted, leaving his car and the devastating scene behind him.

Mrs Wu was walking in the middle of her two daughters. It was her eldest daughter’s birthday; they had visited Nottingham for the day. They were walking from the train station and about half a mile from the safety of their home when Towning’s car struck them. The two girls were injured but not seriously. Mrs Wu sadly died at the scene.

Towning disappeared but he had left behind his driving licence and two bottles of vodka; one was empty.

Officers arrested him at his home, hiding under his dining room table, 11 minutes after the collision.

Analysis of his breath and blood taken just under four hours after the collision found he was almost four times over the legal drink drive limit and had cocaine, benzoylecgonine and cannabis in his system. He had 127 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Det Sgt James Perring, from our Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Towning has shown no remorse at all, he fled from the scene like a coward.

“He was drunk and his driving was affected by the alcohol and drugs he had taken. It is unbelievable that he chose to get behind a wheel in his stupor, his complete disregard for the safety of anyone is beyond comprehension. Add to that he was also highly likely to have been on his mobile phone when he drove up the kerb and into the family of three.

“There is no sentence or sense of judgement that will ever equate to the sadness and tragedy Towning has left behind in his mindless drunken wake. I hope he finds a conscience and never drives again.

“The death of Mrs Wu has left her family utterly bereft. What happened in front of her two young daughters, one who was celebrating her birthday, will never ever be forgotten by them. Our thoughts are with the family today.”