Mother guilt-ridden by drink drive crash took overdose

 A mother-of-six who crippled a Royal Marine while drink driving on a school run took an overdose six months later, consumed with guilt, her family said.

Emma May, 34, was found dead by her 16-year-old daughter at her home in Plymouth in June last year from an overdose of painkillers. Her family say she was “self-destructing” in the months leading up to her death and had debts from cocaine use. A coroner concluded that her death was drug related.

After the inquest her mother, Janice Howarth, 57, said Mrs May had been badly affected by the crash in January 2016. “She definitely felt guilty,” she said. Mrs May was banned from driving for 20 months and fined £470 after driving into 25-year-old Royal Marine Tim Healy at 60mph. He suffered multiple fractures.