Zac Roe: Mum Barbara jailed for killing her own son in Dorset car crash
Heartfelt tributes have been paid to a little boy who was killed in a car crash because of his mother’s dangerous driving.
Zac Roe was nine when he died in a road traffic collision caused by his mother Barbara, whose car was travelling at more than 76mph when it slammed into a cattle transporter as she overtook a Ford Transit van on a blind bend, crossing a solid white line in the middle of the road - which forbids overtaking.
Roe, who is diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder, has been jailed for five years.
His grandparents have issued a tribute to “a popular boy who had many friends”.
They said: “We want to pay tribute to this much-loved boy. His father adored him, as did we. He was a popular boy who had many friends.
“He had an amazing imagination. He just loved making things out of Lego, twigs, cardboard, string and Sellotape. Just the same as his dad did when he was Zac’s age. He was talented at drawing and spent many hours adding detail to whatever he drew.
“We called him nature boy as he loved being outdoors, making dens, riding his bike and scooter, playing parkour and army games. He just loved life. He was always smiling. He should be here now enjoying his life.
“Money has been raised and there in now a therapy dog named after Zac. This is Zac’s legacy as he loved dogs. If anyone one would like to donate in Zac’s memory please go to the ‘Dogs for Health’ Facebook page.
“We will never stop loving him. The good memories are too hard to think about yet. But when we are ready to remember them, we will know how much he loved his short life, which was brutally taken away. No one will ever forget our wonderful Zac. Our grief will last until our last breath.”
Charles Gabb, defending, said that Roe had been experiencing a “deteriorating mental state” and added: “In that hyperactive state, without properly appreciating what she was doing and what was going on and not in a proper lucid state, this tragedy occurred. Ms Roe has a life sentence, her sense of loss is possibly the greatest of all and the tragedy is that it is self-inflicted.”
Mr Gabb explained that Mrs Roe had wanted to take Zac to visit Durdle Door and had become “agitated” by her wish to get there in time that evening.
Judge Robert Pawson said: “She will carry a life sentence, that burden of knowing for the rest of her life that it was her actions that caused the death of her son.”
He added: “There is clear evidence of a progressive deterioration and it affected her rationality although Mrs Roe suffered from a defect of reason but she knew what she was doing and she knew what she was doing was wrong.”
Witnesses said that before the crash the 39-year-old’s car was speeding - at more than 90mph - on a dual carrriageway as she overtook other vehicles. Roe admitted causing death by dangerous driving and today was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court. Members of the public attempted to give first aid at the scene before the emergency services arrived. Roe was taken to hospital for treatment to injuries that were not believed to be serious.
Police Constable Gavin Newbury, of Dorset Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Team said: “This tragic case is the cruellest of reminders of the truly devastating consequences that sadly occur when motorists drive in a dangerous or reckless manner.
“Our thoughts are absolutely with Zac’s loved ones, who have been supported by specially trained officers throughout. While we fully appreciate nothing will ever make up for their loss, our role has been to diligently investigate the circumstances of this collision and bring the evidence before the courts to allow the justice process to follow its course.”
Roe, of Ludgershall, Wiltshire, has also been disqualified from driving for seven and a half years. The accident happened at 5.20pm on Monday, March 25 last year on the A354 near East Woodyates in North Dorset.