A WOMAN whose sister was killed by a drink-driver has spoken of her devastation at the launch of the Cleveland and Durham Christmas drink and drug drive campaign.

Jacqueline Dowdall, from Coxhoe in County Durham, was killed on the A1(M) in Durham in April 2013 when Craig Bourne hit her car while driving at more than 100mph whilst more than twice the legal alcohol limit.

Today (Friday, November 28), the 43-year-old’s sister, Vicky Dowdall, joined police and doctors to tell of the horrors and emotional turmoil of losing someone to a drink driver.

Bourne, from Rushyrigg in Blackfell, had been driving from Darlington to his parents’ house in Washington when he collided with Jacqueline’s car as she travelled to work. He received over seven years’ imprisonment.

At the launch in the University Hospital of North Tees, she said: “I can't explain in words how much this has devastated our family and all of Jackie's friends. It's a pain I've never experienced before and a year and a half later it's still there.

“I will never forgive the man who did this to my sister. He has several years left in prison but at least he will have many Christmases to come with his family. We can't have that, she's gone forever and we miss her so much.”

In 2013, there were seven fatal collisions involving a drunk driver in the Cleveland and Durham force areas and 18 people were seriously injured as a result of a collision involving a drunk driver.

Inspector Ed Turner, from the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit, said: “As roads policing officers we see, all too often, the devastation that is caused by those who get behind the wheel under the influence of drink or drugs, whether that be because someone got straight into their vehicle after a drink or because they decided to drive the morning after a heavy night.”