In a heart-wrenching tribute, a mother has honored her baby son, who was tragically killed earlier this year in a devastating car crash.
Zackary Baldes, just eight months old, was thrown 160 feet from the vehicle during a horrific 140 mph collision with a drunk driver in County Durham.
Zackary was traveling with his aunt, Karlene Warner, who also lost her life in the crash.
Finding Comfort in Family
As Zackary would have celebrated his first birthday, his devastated mother, Shalorna, shared her grief and a small source of solace.
She expressed comfort in knowing that her sister Karlene, a protective big sister and wonderful mother, would be looking after her son.
“Karlene was always there for Zackary,” Shalorna said.
“One positive is that Karlene will be taking good care of him.”
Honoring Zackary’s Memory
To mark Zackary’s first birthday, the family organized a fundraising event at Whitworth Park Academy in Spennymoor.
The event featured food stalls, raffles, and birds of prey, all aimed at raising over £70,000 to build a ‘Together Room’ at Darlington Memorial Hospital.
This space will provide comfort to families facing crisis and grief.
The Tragic Accident
On May 31, Shalorna was picking up her sister Karlene from Newcastle Airport after one of her first shifts as a TUI air hostess.
Tragically, on their way back to Durham, Darryl Anderson, driving from the airport to Yorkshire, crashed into their vehicle on the A1(M).
Anderson, who was driving at 141 mph while being nearly three times over the legal drink-drive limit, was sentenced to 17 years in prison at Durham Crown Court on July 9.
A Community’s Response
In addition to the fundraising efforts, the family has launched a petition advocating for a mandatory lifelong driving ban for those convicted of dangerous driving.
The petition, which has garnered close to 76,000 signatures, has received support from Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen.
Allen has pledged to support the campaign and push for national changes to prevent similar tragedies.
The Personal Toll
Shalorna’s sister Lareesa, reflecting on their time at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, spoke about the profound sense of loss.
“Karlene was always so excited to see me,” Lareesa shared.
“But the reality is that she’s not here anymore. Neither is Zackary.”
She described Zackary as a joyful child, always smiling and a loving ‘mam’s boy.’
Moving Forward
As the family continues to grieve, their efforts to raise awareness and drive change are a testament to their resilience.
They hope their work will prevent others from experiencing similar heartache and ensure that Zackary and Karlene’s memories live on through positive action.
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