Girl, 8, Writes Letter To Drunk Driver Who Nearly Killed Her Mum

An eight-year-old girl has penned a letter to a drunk driver who almost killed her mum in a head-on collision.

Amelia Elce was driving home in Mansfield, Nottingham, when a car driving on the wrong side of the road smashed into her.

Facebook/Nottinghamshire Police

Mrs Elce was lucky to survive the crash and her daughter Isabelle was left so upset by the crash she decided to write a letter to driver Tomasz Niedziela, who was arrested at the scene and found to be almost twice over the drink drive limit.

The letter reads: "To the man who drank alcohol on that night.

"You nearly killed my mummy! She had to go to hospital with blood pouring out of her head and I nearly didn't have a mummy anymore.

"So please don't ever do that again. Thank you from Isabelle."

The letter has since been widely shared on Facebook and Mrs Elce said she was 'so proud' of Isabelle.

She said: "When she presented her letter to us we were all so shocked. She asked if we could send it to the driver but we told her that even if it didn't reach him, if one person saw and read her letter on Facebook it might make them think twice about drinking and driving.

"She's so loving and we're all so proud of her. I'd also like to thank all of my family and friends for the support they've given me since the crash.

"I just hope that Niedziela realises the massive impact his actions have had on me and my family and that by sharing my story it makes people think twice about getting behind the wheel after having a drink."

Facebook/Nottinghamshire Police

Mrs Elce hasn't got back behind the wheel since the crash on 21 September and is still receiving physio for her injuries and counselling to help with the psychological impact of the collision.

Niedziela, 35, was sentenced at Mansfield Magistrates' Court on Thursday 12 December, where he was given a 20-month driving ban, fined £590 ($768) and ordered to pay a £59 ($76) victim surcharge and £85 ($110) costs.

Chief Inspector Claire Rukas, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "Isabelle's letter shows just how damaging and impacting drink driving can be.

"She could have lost her mum due to the reckless actions of Niedziela. I hope Isabelle and her family continue to recover from this traumatic incident and on behalf of Nottinghamshire Police I'd like to wish them all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

"Driving while under the influence of drink or drugs is always a significant danger, but at Christmas the risks are even more prevalent with darker nights, bad weather and sadly, more people taking the risk by drinking or using drugs and then getting behind the wheel."

Topics: Police, UK News, Interesting

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey