'A drink-driver devastated us - don't do the same'

2 hours ago

Alexandra Bassingham,West of Englandand

Alastair McKee,West of England

News image — Rebecca Ashmead's family said her death was "senseless and totally avoidable"

BBC Fen Trudgian, wearing a tan jumper and a solid neck chain. He has a groomed beard and moustache and brown, lightly curly hair. — Rebecca Ashmead's family said her death was "senseless and totally avoidable"

The family of a lollipop lady who was killed by a drink-driver while off-duty has spoken of the impact of her death as they support a road safety campaign.

Rebecca Ashmead, a mother-of-four from Yate, was 49 when she was hit and killed by drink-driver Ashley Billing in the South Gloucestershire town in March 2023. He was jailed for nine years over her death.

According to new police data, there were 44 fatal crashes and 667 serious injury collisions in Avon and Somerset last year.

"For people who choose to get in cars and speed, or are under the influence, see the impact you are having," said Rebecca's sister Caroline Court. "Because you are always at risk of devastating someone's life."

Court described her sister's death as "senseless", adding: "The anger that comes with the grief is palpable for me every day."

She said her sister was "very family-oriented" and they "did everything together".

"She was so giving in the community, active with fundraising, reading [at the school], and she volunteered at the local community centre.

"She was probably the hardest working person I've ever known. She wanted to do everything for everyone, give her kids every opportunity.

Family handout Rebecca Ashmead, with purple toned hair and a fringe. She is looking at the camera in a selfie-style shot. Behind her there are some jackets, including a high-vis coat and a door. She is wearing a dark jumper. — Rebecca Ashmead was 49 when she was killed by a drink-driver in Yate

Tae Ashmead, one of Rebecca's three daughters, said her mum "brought so much joy and happiness" while working as a lollipop lady.

"The children would give her flowers when they crossed with her," she said. "She enjoyed it so much."

She added: "As a mum, she was always there, the most supportive person ever. We always said she was our biggest cheerleader."

Fen Trudgian, Rebecca's eldest child, said facing his biggest fear of losing his mum was "impossible to put it into words".

"She was a unique person," he said. "When you have that one person who is ever present in your life, there at everything you do, shouting the loudest… it is impossible to live without that once you've experienced it."

Fen Trudgian, wearing a tan jumper and a solid neck chain. He has a groomed beard and moustache and brown, lightly curly hair. He is looking at the camera and behind him there is an out of focus blue background. — Fen Trudgian said the grief of losing his mum was "impossible to deal with"

Rebecca was on her way to see Trudgian in Bristol when she was hit on Kennedy Way, in Yate. She died at the scene.

Trudgian said: "The way that evening descended from excitement for a fun plan to spend time with my mum, to realisation… The pain I felt in my heart, and the scream that came out of me. I can hear that in my head whenever I think about that day."

Court said the hardest thing about losing her sister was that it was "totally avoidable".

"We wanted to speak up for Bex," she added.

Caroline Court, wearing a white fluffy jumper with a broach and a necklace, looking straight at the camera. Her blonde hair falls to her shoulders. Behind her are trees and grass, which are out of focus. It is a bright, sunny day. — Caroline Court said her sister was a big advocate for road safety

"She was such an advocate for road safety and if the speed had been different [that day], the outcome of this would be different."

Trudgian added: "I just wish one better decision had been made on that day and our lives would be completely different. That's all it takes."

Matt Boiles, a road policing inspector for Avon and Somerset Police, said Rebecca's death hit the community in Yate hard.

"She was, and is, sorely missed," he said.

He said the road safety campaign was about creating a collective approach involving the community and police to reduce incidents and to encourage people to make "conscious decisions to get them and the people around them home safe".

It is about "travelling 5mph slower, or getting that Uber home, or drinking a soft drink when you're going out for an evening," he said.

Police said data shows the leading contributory factors in crashes aligns with the so-called fatal five behaviours known to cause the most serious harm. They are: