British 'drink

Release time：2024-05-20 06:25:58 Source：International Insight news portal

A British woman accused of drink-driving and causing a horror smash which killed a four-month-old baby in Lanzarote has finally appeared before a judge after her first hearing was cancelled because she had a panic attack.

Olivia Brown, 23, declined to answer questions at the closed hearing yesterday in the island capital Arrecife.

She was told she could remain on bail and a travel ban preventing her from leaving Spain was kept in place.

British mother Alex Chadkirk, 28, was hurt in the March 11 crash after Brown's Ford Fiesta mounted the pavement and careered into her and her baby girl Harper Ayton.

Harper, whose recruitment education worker mum proudly showed off her baby daughter in adorable photos following her birth last November, died at the scene despite the efforts of paramedics to save her.

Mother Alex Chadkirk, 28, was injured in the crash and her baby daughter Harper (pictured with Alex) was killed

The driver has been named as 23-year-old Olivia Brown, with officials saying she tested positive for both drink and drugs at the scene

Shocking images of the scene showed police and paramedics working desperately on the stricken pedestrians in the aftermath of the crash

The tot's father Timothy Ayton, 40, was rushed to a nearby hospital and had to be admitted to an intensive care unit along with Alex's mum Andrea Chadkirk.

Alex's father Derek was also hospitalised with less serious injuries.

The family, from South Shields, Tyne & Wear, were holidaying on the island and walking back to their holiday villa in the resort of Playa Blanca when they were hit by Brown's.

A Swedish mother and daughter who had just arrived in the resort were also injured. The younger woman had to be airlifted to a hospital in the neighbouring island of Gran Canaria because of the severity of her injuries.

Brown, described as appearing to be under the influence of drink and drugs by town hall officials after the crash, was taken to hospital after suffering a panic attack on March 14 when her first scheduled court appearance had to be suspended.

The expat, believed to be originally from Glasgow - although she moved to Lanzarote as a child - was told at the time she was being provisionally released pending an ongoing investigation and ordered to surrender her passport and sign on at court twice a month.

Officials confirmed overnight she had made her first full court appearance yesterday.

A spokesman for the investigating judge said: 'The person being investigated over the crash in Playa Blanca in Lanzarote on March 11 appeared at Arrecife Court of Instruction Number One yesterday morning.

'She invoked her right not to testify.

'After the appearance, the precautionary measures dictated at the time, namely the obligation to sign on at court on the 1st and 15th, withdrawal of her passport and a ban on leaving Spain, were kept in place.

Emergency services tried desperately to save little Harper at the scene of the crash

Ms Chadwick (left) and her partner Timothy Ayton, 40 (not pictured) were both injured, as was Ms Chadwick's own father

'She continues to be investigated for a crime of manslaughter and another of driving under the influence of alcohol, toxic drugs, narcotics or psychotropic substances under article 379.2 of the Spanish penal code.

'The victims are also pressing charges and their statements will be taken in due course. Several technical and forensic reports are yet to be presented.'

In the aftermath of the accident a spokesperson for Yaiza Town Hall, which covers the Playa Blanca area, said in a statement the car driver 'showed signs of being under the influence of alcohol and drugs.'

Town hall officials subsequently said she had tested positive for drink and drugs but declined to make further comment about the amounts detected in tests.

The baby girl that died after being hit by the Ford Fiesta Brown was driving was four-and-a-half months old.

The dead tot's paternal grandparents flew to Lanzarote after being informed about the terrible news.

Ms Chadwick's father David Chadwick was also injured in the horror smash, as were a Swedish mother and daughter

Brown is said to have been travelling from her home to work when she crashed. She is believed to work at a local hotel.

She told police at the scene the steering on her car had blocked and reports at the time said her vehicle was being tested to see if there could have been any mechanical failures.

She wasn't formally arrested or held in a police cell following the incident.

Officials revealed the British family mown down were heading from a supermarket to their holiday villa when they were hit.

More than a dozen bouquets of flowers and several teddy bears were left by well-wishers at the crash scene.

One note pinned to a bouquet said: 'For a five month old little angel'. Another message said: 'RIP baby girl. Love and prayers to your family'.

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