06/10/2008

Professional Footballer Jailed For Death Crash

A professional footballer has been jailed for dangerous driving resulting in the deaths of two young boys.

The 25-year-old, a former Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper, has been jailed for seven years and four months for causing the deaths of Arron Peak, 10 and his eight-year-old brother Ben Peak by dangerous driving.

Luke McCormick was also found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol when the black Range Rover he was driving ploughed into a family car on the M6, killing the two young boys.

The Championship footballer appeared today at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court pleading guilty to the charges.

The jury heard that McCormick was found to have 74 micrograms of alcohol in 100 mililitres of breath - more than twice over the legal limit of 35 micrograms. He had been driving home from a teammate's wedding when he collided with the Toyota Previa car, driven by the boy's 37-year-old father Philip Peak, shortly before 5.45am on June 7.

The Peak family had set out earlier for a day out at Silverstone racetrack. Mr Peak was seriously injured in the crash.

The jury heard McCormick told eyewitnesses at the scene: "I am so sorry, I'm sorry. I just fell asleep. I fell asleep, I'm sorry."

Prior to the accident, other motorists noticed Coventry-born McCormick "driving like an idiot" and estimated his speed was around 90mph.

The 25-year-old's contract with Plymouth Argyle was cancelled by "mutual consent" on July 22, the club revealed.

(JM)

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