A Walsall man has today (8 April) been convicted of causing the death of a baby by dangerous driving last year.
Two-week-old Ciaran Leigh Morris was in his pram being pushed along Brownhills High Street on 4 April by his proud parents and friends when the tragedy happened.
James Davis was driving a BMW which veered onto the wrong side of the road and struck a Ford B Max travelling in the opposite direction. The BMW then mounted the pavement and pinned the pram against a shop front. Baby Ciaran was taken to hospital but sadly his injuries were too severe to survive. Ciaran’s mother also suffered a broken collar bone.
Davis had abandoned the car and immediately fled the scene, but he called police around 40 minutes later to tell them what he had done.
CCTV footage of the moments before the collision can be seen.
The 35-year-old was charged with death by dangerous driving, causing death by driving while uninsured, failing to stop at the scene of a collision and failure to report a collision. He was remanded in prison until his trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court which started on Monday 28 March and has today been jailed for six and a half years.
Detective Sergeant Julie Lyman, from our Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “The death of baby Ciaran shocked the community and support poured in for his young parents. Their grief at what should have been one of the happiest times of their lives is unimaginable and the conviction of Davis cannot compensate for their loss.
“Our thoughts remain with them and their families.”
Following the verdict, Ciaran’s parents said: “Ciaran our precious baby boy, in the short time he was with us, was loved so much. The unexpected and sudden circumstances of losing Ciaran has caused great pain and our lives will never be the same without him.
“Our family would be grateful if you can please now allow us to grieve in private.”