Heartbroken mum dies a year after son, 6, was killed by drink-driver

Friends have paid tribute to a mum who died a year after her six-year-old son was killed by a drink and drug-fuelled driver.

Gemma Painter, 29, was left devastated following the loss of young son Leo in a horrific crash last February.

He had just been collected from school by Claire Adkins, 39, who was escorting him to his foster home, when uninsured Joe-Lewis Tyler smashed into them at 90mph in Worcester.

Claire and taxi driver Courtney Hemming, 26, were killed instantly, while Leo died of his injuries in hospital on February 22.

At the time of his death, Gemma had been looking forward to Leo coming to live with her again.

She said Leo’s loss had ‘broken’ her, adding: ‘He changed my life when I had him and I just want to make sure he knows how much he was loved and how much he will be remembered by everyone.’

Speaking after laying flowers at the scene of the collision, she told reporters: ‘He always had a smile on his face and was a bundle of fun.

‘I’m heartbroken that I won’t see him again. He loved PAW Patrol and I gave him a pair of pyjamas with his favourite characters on.

‘He said he loved wearing “Mummy’s pyjamas”.’

Gemma, who battled mental health problems following his death, died ‘peacefully’ at home on June 30.

Her family revealed she has ‘saved’ four people through organ donations.

Friend Beth Munden is now organising a fun day event to raise money for Gemma’s funeral and raise awareness about mental health.

She said: ‘Sadly on June 30, Gemma passed away peacefully. She was the life of the party. She was hilarious.

‘You could be having your worst day possible, and you could be speaking to Gemma, and you’d feel alright again.

‘She’d rather help out other people than help herself.’

A GoFundMe page has so far raised more than £2,800.

An inquest into Gemma’s death will take place next March.

Tyler was jailed for 18 years at Worcester Crown Court last August.

The court heard he had been involved in two near-miss incidents in the minutes before the fatal crash after leaving the West Midlands Tavern.

A bartender estimated he had downed around five pints of lager and four rounds of Sambuca and Jagermeister shots before he and his friend were asked to leave for being loud.

A driver who witnessed the BMW before the collision said she feared for her life as the vehicle hit standing water on the road and nearly veered into her as she drove in the opposite direction.

Tyler had just previously lost control and ‘spun’ the BMW, which he had borrowed from someone else and for which the temporary insurance had ran out around 90 minutes before the fatal crash, as he tried to negotiate a turn.

A post-collision analysis found that Tyler had somewhere between 103 and 215mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, with the legal limit being 80mg per 100ml, and had also previously taken cocaine and cannabis.

Judge James Burbidge KC said Ms Hemming would not have been able to anticipate that the BMW driven by Tyler would have been going at speeds of around 90mph on a day where it was raining and some roads had been left partially flooded.

‘You caused catastrophic injuries to Courtney, Claire and Leo and from those injuries they could not be saved,’ he told Tyler.

“I’m grateful for the photos of each victim I have been given because it is important for the court to remember the vibrant lives of those who have been taken.

‘Courtney was looking forward to being married, her son has been left without a mother at the age of nine.

‘Claire’s three lads, now without a mother. Leo had barely started his life, aged six.

‘Your actions have had a devastating effect on the victims and the various family members who have suffered as a result of your dangerous and selfish actions.

‘They will remain bereft.’

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