The daughters of a motorcyclist killed by a drug-driver have hit out at the man’s six-year jail sentence.
Daniel Pryce (40) had taken drugs and had two young children in the Ford Galaxy people carrier he was driving when he overtook another car and caused the death of Martin Elam (47), last August Bank Holiday Monday.
Mr Elam’s passenger and partner Trudy Edgington was left registered disabled.
Martin’s daughter Melissa (27) attended Pryce’s trial on Monday.
She said: “I do not feel that six years, eight months is long enough. He basically murdered my dad. He should have got longer, he knew the consequences of driving in that state and driving in that way.
“He took my dad’s life away and he will be walking around as if nothing happened in a few years and all of us who have lost my dad will still be suffering.
“It was very upsetting hearing all the details of the case, how my dad actually lost his life, it was like I had lost him all over again.”
Daughter Rosie (17), who lives in Australia, wasn’t able to attend the trial but had been kept informed of the details.
She said: “I was disappointed to learn he was only going to serve six years, knowing that he’ll probably get let out in three and a half with good behaviour.
“Surely someone who took a life should have to serve life.
“While that’s something that’s going to stick with him forever, I don’t believe that guilt and the time he will serve is enough.”
Mr Elam was a well-known, active figure in the community, with a love of motorcycles. Rosie said of Pryce: “He’s caused permanent damage to not only my sister and myself, but also the large number of people he was friends with, as well as the close people in his family.”
Melissa said: “It’s hard to understand that someone like that took my dad’s life away, who was the kindest, most helpful person, always got the most out of life to the best of his ability.”
Rosie has urged drivers to think of the consequences of their actions. She said of Pryce: “If he made smarter choices, he might not have ended someone’s life, someone who was important to so many people.
“If there’s was one thing we could tell people, it’s to really think when you go on the roads. People hear this a lot and we know they never think it’s going to happen to them but it does. It’s a serious problem and you don’t realise how serious until it happens to you or someone you know.”
Both daughters are still suffering in the wake of the crash.
“I still miss Dad every day,” said Melissa. “The smallest things still remind me of him and upset me, just as simple as a song on the radio we used to sing along to or the smell of oil and grease in a garage as he was always busy fixing cars and motorcycles.
“We were so close and always there for each other. Even though he was a busy man he always made time to ring me when he was out in his lorry working and we would have a good chat.
“I forget sometimes and feel the need to talk to him and then it hits me that he’s not around anymore.
“It really is heartbreaking as it is for many others who have also lost my dad.”
Rosie shares this sentiment. “It’s still hard to believe it’s real,” she said.
“Knowing that I can’t just message him when I want to have a quick FaceTime call is honestly one of the hardest things to face, and it’s certainly something that will never go away.
“There hasn’t been a day I haven’t thought about him. and how much he impacted my life.
“I feel like there will always be this part missing from my life. No-one should ever have to lose someone who means so much to them, especially to something that wasn’t their fault.
“My dad couldn’t have prevented this, and he never would’ve thought that day would be his last. All you can hope is that he was happy, and I know he was.”
The court heard Mr Elam and his partner were returning on the bike from a spa day. It was ruled he couldn’t have avoided Pryce’s car, which was on the wrong side of the road.
Mr Elam also cared for two stepchildren, Clare and Emma Taylor.
Melissa and Mr Elam’s close friends and family will be taking part in a sponsored 10k run to raise money for the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance on August 12. You can sponsor them here.
The full court report is here.
