M66: Family of pregnant mum killed by driver share heartbreak

Today (Wednesday) Accrington man Adil Iqbal, who caused the fatal crash, was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment and disqualified from driving for 14 years at Manchester Minshull Steet Crown Court.

On Saturday, May 13, the 22-year-old sped onto the M66 in his BMW and began weaving in out of traffic while filming his driving. He later hit Frankie’s car on the hard shoulder after losing control.

Frankie, 17 weeks pregnant with her first daughter, Neeve, suffered unsurvivable brain injuries and never regained consciousness.

Her daughter died with her two days later in hospital surrounded by her family.

Her son, Tommy Spencer, nine, and nephew Toby Welby were left in a coma suffering serious brain injuries and their long-term outcomes remain uncertain, the court heard. Both spent weeks in intensive care.

READ: Killer driver was filming before he crashed into mum's car on M66

During the sentencing the court heard heartbreaking victim impact statements from several members of Frankie’s family.

Frankie’s father Frank Hough was the first to read his to the court as he fought back tears.

He described his daughter as his “hero” and said that as soon as she was born, she became his “priority and reason”.

He added: “I held Frankie’s hand when she was born, I held her hand many times throughout her life and I held her hand and kissed her beautiful face as she died.

“I am never going to experience the feeling of holding her hand again."

As his voice choked with emotion, he told the court: “Now my girl has been needlessly and thoughtlessly ripped away from me.

“I am never going to witness again the miracle she was as a mother."

Frankie’s partner, Calvin Buckley, the father of unborn Neeve, then read his own emotional statement.

The court heard that the couple had chosen their daughter’s name just the night before the crash and had begun looking for a family home and discussing wedding plans.

Mr Buckley said: “My past, present and future has been crushed and taken from me and for what? An adrenaline rush, an ego boost, a false sense of worth, and selfish gratification with no regards for the safety of others.”

He said that he had gone from being in the “happiest state of his life” to a “horror story with no happy endings", adding: “Every day I miss Frankie and Neeve.”

Calvin described Frankie, from Oldham, as a “beautiful, kind and caring” person with the “heart of an angel”.

The court was then read a statement from Frankie’s mother Julia Vasconcellos who was abroad on holiday when the crash happened.

In the statement, Julia said: "I have lost the most beautiful daughter. She was a talented artist, musician, and actress. She was kind and would always go out of her way to make people feel happy and loved."

She went on to describe Frankie as a “beautiful mummy” who “loved being a mummy more than anything in the world.”

The court then heard a statement from Frankie's sister and Toby's mother, Becci Welby.

Speaking of the night Frankie died, she said: "I felt like my soul left me that night. I still do feel like that. I miss her so much."

She later said: “I’ve lost my best friend, my soulmate and for the rest of my life I will forever have a huge part of me missing. Life will never be the same again.

“My sister was the most kind, beautiful, caring person you could ever meet."

The court then heard from Tommy’s father Tom Spencer who attended the crash scene and said nothing could have prepared him for what he saw.

On arrival Tom found his son in the arms of a stranger “limp and lifeless” and the next day he drove to Preston Hospital to say goodbye to his mum for him.

He said: “I made a promise that I will always look after our boy. I hope she could hear me."

Finally, the court heard a statement from Rocky’s father George Craddock.

Referring to his son, he said: “He will lay flowers on Mother’s Day, on her birthday and consider what could have been and what has been taken from him.

“A father can never truly fill the gap of a lost mother."