'Idiot': What 12-year-old girl said seconds before she was killed by 106mph drink-driver



A 12-year-old girl who saw a car hurtling towards her mother's vehicle at 106mph called its driver an 'idiot' moments before it smashed into them, a coroner heard.



Samantha Arnold was travelling with her mother Sarah and sister when David Stannett drove into their Chrysler Voyager people carrier in a 50mph zone.



The 26-year-old, who was later found to be four times over the drink-drive limit, died in the crash which also killed his drunk father Michael.

Killed: Samantha Arnold, 12, died when her mother's car was struck by drunk driver David Stannett, who was four times over the drink-drive limit

The schoolgirl victim had been with her sister Rebecca at a roller skating rink and was being driven by their mother Sarah to a McDonald's when Stannett ploughed into them.



Samantha was taken from the scene of the crash in Braunstone, Leicester, but was pronounced dead at the city's main hospital.

Heartache: Sarah Arnold, who was left in a wheelchair after the crash, said Stannett had been driving erratically



Tests on the body of David Stannett showed he had 325mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood - just over four times the legal limit of 80mg/100ml.

His father's blood alcohol level was found to be at 313mg/100ml.

Sarah Arnold, who was seriously hurt and left in a wheelchair, told the coroner she noticed a car on the opposite side of the A563 driving erratically as it entered a bend.

She said: 'He clipped the kerb and his front mirror hit the wall.



'Samantha said "Idiot" and that was it. It was just too quick. There was nothing I could do.'

The force of the crash split Stannett's car in two pieces and the rear end careered into another car but the occupants were unhurt.

Recording a verdict of unlawful killing on both Samantha and Michael, assistant Deputy Coroner for Leicester Martin Gotheridge yesterday decided David's death was an accident.

He said the level of alcohol in David Stannett's blood was 'frightening' and paid tribute to 'innocent' Samantha, saying she was killed as a result of 'irresponsible driving'.

'Samantha was not in a position to know about the condition of the driver of the Toyota,' he said.

'Frightening' level of alcohol in his blood: Drunk driver David Stannett was at the wheel of a Toyota Celica driving at 106mph prior to the crash in Braunstone, Leicester

'She was an innocent girl who was tragically killed as a result of irresponsible driving of David Stannett.'

After the hearing in Leicester, Detective Sergeant Ivan Stafford, who led the investigation, said: 'These three unnecessary deaths have obviously caused a great deal of grief to all concerned.

'The outcome of the inquest has highlighted the real dangers of drinking and driving.

'In this case, one driver chose to get behind the wheel whilst under the influence of alcohol, the result of which has devastated three families and left them paying the ultimate price.'

In a statement released after the inquest, David Stannett's mother said: 'I wish there was something I could say to relieve the pain that the Arnold family are going through. But there are no words, words are not enough.

'I am devastated for their loss and it gives me great pain to think that my son played a part in this awful tragedy.



'I miss my son terribly, however, I don't want to talk about my grief as I don't think it's appropriate or fair on Samantha's family.'

Samantha Arnold's family said they were 'completely and utterly devastated'.

'Also, we would like to say that we know that others have also lost loved ones due to drink-drive and speeding drivers and we would like to see a change in the law to stop these travesties from continuing to happen,' they said.