The mother of a 20-year-old woman who died in a high-speed crash has issued an emotional plea, urging people not to take risks on the roads.
Denii Reynolds tragically lost her life on the A16 in October 2021 when the car she was travelling in as a passenger collided while being driven at nearly 99mph.
Now, her mum, Danielle Robinson, has joined forces with road safety campaigners to warn others about the devastating consequences of dangerous driving.
Keelan Tuke was leading a convoy of four cars driven by Josh Dobb, Riley Duncombe, and Keigan Launder. The group were racing one another when the crash occurred. All four were convicted of causing Denii’s death by dangerous driving, as well as causing serious injury to pensioner Margaret Williams, whose vehicle was also struck in the collision.
Launching the campaign, Danielle described Denii as her best friend, and as a beautiful person with a “massive personality.”
“She was really witty, really funny, really caring, kind, she was loud around everybody, she used to love screaming at her brothers and sisters because they was annoying, but she adored them at the same time,” Danielle continued.
Describing the impact of the tragic incident on the family, Danielle said she “can’t emphasize how missed she is.” She added: “I remember the day she went out she was poorly, she didn’t really want to go out. She said I’m not staying out late, I got a phone call, well it was actually my daughter who got the phone call, she just screamed at me ‘Denii’s been in an accident and it’s bad, it’s really bad’ and I was so calm.”
“One of the boys who was there actually came on the phone to me and I said, right how bad is it? Do I go to the hospital? And he said, the police want you to come to the scene.
“So I just thought, she wants me to come in the ambulance with her. I was really positive about it, it felt like the longest drive in the world. I still wasn’t panicking until I got there, and then there was just a sea of cars and people.
“And then I saw a female police officer come running towards me, and I just knew instantly by her face, I knew straight away that it wasn’t good. And I just said she’s gone isn’t she? And she said yes I’m sorry, then everything went a little bit, I was a bit screamy then I was a bit calm, then I was on the floor crying, and then I was trying to go to the car, I just wanted to be with her.”
Danielle added that although she has now fully processed the heartbreaking event, she still has days where she can’t bring herself to speak about Denii.
She urged young people to exercise caution and avoid risk and speeding when on the roads, stating that “one split second can cause such devastating effects.”
“I would beg somebody not to drive like that, because I wouldn’t want another parent to feel how I feel, I don’t want another parent to have to watch one of their kids go so withdrawn, that you then start worrying you’re going to lose another child because of what they’ve gone through – just think before you drive like an idiot.
“People and cars kill if they’re not used correctly together, and I have to live with that. I wouldn’t want to see anybody else have to go through that.”
Part of the Gi Grimsby News team since 2020.