‘We can’t hate killer drink-driver’

The daughters of a “special and amazing” woman who was killed in a crash with a drink-driver said they held no hatred towards the man and hoped their mother’s death would serve as a warning to other motorists.

Louisa and Lauren Boulazreg saw Ross Parker, 36, jailed for six years yesterday over the accident on the M8 in Glasgow when he drove the wrong way for a mile and collided with charity worker Margo Boulazreg’s car.

The judge at the High Court in Edinburgh described Mrs Boulazreg, a project manager with disability charity Quarriers, as “a special person who devoted her life to others”. The sisters said she was “really amazing”.

Louisa, 23, a restaurant worker, spoke to father-of-two Parker’s wife, a nursing sister, in court.

She said: “We are not the only victims in this. His family are suffering and I think about them. I just wanted her to know that obviously there is a lot of hurt, but we are not hateful.

“There is quite a casualness towards drinking and getting behind the wheel. I know people who have done it with a couple of pints. They think they are going to be OK. I do not think it is worth the risk, even after one drink. You never know.

“If anything, I hope this case stops even one person getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol.”

Lauren, 20, a student, added: “She was really kind and caring to everyone and always did her best to bring us up as best as she could. Hopefully, we are going to live our lives as she would want us to.”

Mrs Boulazreg, 52, of Houston, Renfrewshire, had been driving her son Callum, 18, to meet friends in Glasgow at about 11:30pm on 24 February last year.

Parker, of Jordanhill, Glasgow, had been in a bar watching football, and could have been twice the legal alcohol limit when, ignoring no-entry signs, he drove on to the eastbound carriageway of the M8 near Helen Street – into oncoming traffic.

Other drivers flashed their lights and sounded their horns, but Parker continued.

Advocate-depute Hugh Irwin said: “Callum saw the headlights of the accused’s car travelling towards them in the same lane. Mrs Boulazreg screamed and swerved her car… the accused’s car also swerved and collided with Mrs Boulazreg’s vehicle.”

Mrs Boulazreg was trapped in her Fiat Punto and died at the scene. Parker told a witness: “I shouldn’t even be driving. I’m wrecked.”

He admitted causing the death, and severe injuries to Callum, by dangerous driving.

Defence solicitor-advocate John Keenan said Parker had intended to leave his car at the pub: “For some inexplicable reason, he took the decision to drive. That was a catastrophic error with tragic consequences for a large number of people.”

Lord Stewart said the jail term would be reduced from nine to six years because Parker had pled guilty, and he would be banned from driving for eight years.