This is the first image of the tragic five-month-old baby who died in Lanzarote after a driver ‘under the influence’ jumped onto the sidewalk and hit two families.
Harper Ayton, pictured hugged by her mother, had been on holiday with her parents Alex Chadkirk, 28, and Timothy Ayton, 40, and grandparents Andrea and Derek Chadkirk before the shocking incident on Monday night.
Timothy is said to be in a critical condition in a local hospital where the rest of the family, believed to be from South Shields, are also receiving treatment.
The driver, 23-year-old Olivia Brown, was allegedly over the legal limit when her “out of control” car mounted the curb and crashed into the family.
She is currently under house arrest and could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison for causing the death of the newborn. The minimum sentence she faces is seven years.
Harper Louise Ayton, the five-month-old baby who died on Monday in a horrific accident in Lanzarote
Mother Alex Chadkirk with her baby, Harper Louise. Alex was among the six injured in the accident.
Grandparents Andrea and David Chadkirk were also injured in the accident.
The family was staying in a rental villa near a popular water park in the Playa Blanca resort.
They were less than a quarter of a mile from the village when they were hit by the “out of control” car.
Eyewitnesses described hearing heartbreaking screams and watching as the mother tried to revive her baby while others tended to the injured.
The group had just started their vacation and were reportedly returning from a nearby supermarket when they were attacked.
Until her pregnancy, Alex worked for a specialist education recruitment company called Vision of Education.
Staff at the Newcastle branch where she worked knew she had been involved in an accident.
A staff member said: “I’m sorry, but we can’t talk about that.”
A Swedish mother and daughter were also injured by the Ford Fiesta which, according to eyewitnesses, was speeding and made no attempt to slow down before taking the curb.
The mother suffered three heart attacks while in hospital and is still in critical condition after being flown to Gran Canaria for specialist treatment. Her daughter remains in Lanzarote in a hospital in Arrecife.
Speaking to MailOnline, a young English family revealed that after the accident there was panic in the streets of this idyllic holiday spot.
They said, ‘It was horrible. The people who saw it stopped us from going down because they didn’t want our daughter to see it.
‘What we saw was pretty bad.
‘We heard this heartbreaking scream from one of the injured women and there was a man who had a very serious head injury, his entire skull was badly cut.
‘A couple from our hotel who saw it have already cut their holiday short, which is understandable.
‘They saw too much. We keep thinking, it could have been us.
“Everything we do during the holidays, we just think, ‘They should be doing this.'”
“It’s just terrible.”
Yesterday, Brown’s first court appearance had to be canceled after he suffered a panic attack and was unable to present any evidence.
A judge at the Arrecife Court ruled that Olivia Brown ‘was not fit’ to testify and give her version of the accident that occurred in the tourist town of Playa Blanca.
Judicial sources said the 23-year-old was “distraught and could not answer any questions.”
A court spokesman said expatriate Brown was facing charges of manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
The hotel worker has been granted bail and ordered to report to a police station on the 1st and 15th of each month.
Brown lives on the island with his parents and is believed to work at a hotel in the beach resort of Playa Blanca where the accident occurred.
On his social networks he shows scenes of the sunset on the island, posing in front of palm trees and with his mother.
The Brown family is believed to have lived on the island for several years.
Days after the accident, floral tributes and teddy bears continue to be left at the accident site.
A note attached to a bouquet read: “For a five-month-old little angel.”
Another message read: ‘RIP girl. Love and prayers to her family.’
Alex Chadkirk (left) was injured in Monday’s crash. His baby died tragically
Grandparents Andrea and David Chadkirk were among the six injured in the crash.
Olivia Brown could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted of involuntary manslaughter
Olivia Brown, 23, appeared in court Thursday, charged with driving under the influence.
Shocking images from the scene showed police and paramedics desperately working on affected pedestrians after the crash.
Well-wishers shocked by the newborn’s death had left more than half a dozen bouquets and five teddy bears.
There are still remains of the vehicle on the road.
The point of impact occurred on a wide road, in front of a hotel and near a water park.
There were no signs of skid marks due to the attempt to brake and slow the car before the collision.
The impact toppled a stone wall surrounding an apartment complex.