Family of Frank Martell killed by a drunk driver urges peopl to think before driving this Christmas

The family of a young man killed by a drunk driver has urged anyone thinking of getting behind the wheel after a festive drink to think again.

Frank Martell, 21, of Dry Doddington, died when his Ford Focus was hit by another car on a bend in Balderton in 2017.

Driver Joseph Tame, 23, of Walnut Paddock, Melton Mowbray, was 2½ times the drink drive limit. He was jailed for six years at Nottingham Crown Court in June this year, after admitting causing death by dangerous driving, and was banned from driving for eight years.

The incident happened on Staple Lane in April last year.

Frank’s family say they don’t want anyone else to go through what they have had to.

His sister, Kirsty Martell, 32, said Frank’s death had been avoidable.

She said: “It’s absolutely ripped us apart ­— especially given that there’s no sort of logic to it. It makes it really difficult to get your head around.

“There’s no reason for him to have died that night.”

`Kirsty, a mother of two, who works part-time at Newark’s Odeon Cinema, said: “I feel like even if people know the consequences, they still wouldn’t think it would happen to them.

“It’s typical of these young lads ­— they think they can do these things and that it would never happen to them.

“I would say just don’t do it. Even if you feel okay to drive, it’s just not worth it.”

Kirsty said last Christmas ­— the Martells’ first without Frank ­— was really difficult, and no one wanted to do anything.

But she added that they had to carry on for the sake of the family, including Frank’s parents Andrew and Kathryn, other sister, Emily, 29, and his young nieces.

Frank, a forklift engineer for TBS Forklifts in Nottingham, loved the outdoors, especially walking in Derbyshire.

Members of the family did the Three Peaks Challenge and raised £1,800 for road safety charity Brake. Frank’s girlfriend, Hannah Goodrum, also did a skydive for the cause.

Forensic psychologist Dr Ruth Tully, based in Nottingham, provides expert psychological advice in prison parole board and court assessments.

She said: “Stopping someone from drink-driving can be tricky.

“These drivers usually don’t consider themselves as risk-takers, and often may justify drink driving by attempting to minimise the quantity of alcohol consumed, or they will tell themselves and others they feel ok to drive.

“If one of your friends is considering drink driving, reminding them it’s not worth their life, or someone else’s life, may help.

“Not only is drink driving dangerous, it is a criminal offence and so if the person is still at risk of drink driving, remind them of what they will also lose.

“I have worked with people who have killed other road users because of drink driving, and it has ruined their own life as well as that of the victim and their family.”