A man has been jailed over the death of a flight attendant near Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
Kieran Cooney was sentenced to three years behind bars after Cinzia Ceravolo was struck while leaving her job as a Ryanair stewardess on 26 August last year.
The 36-year-old Italian national, who lived in the UK for five years, had arrived at the Speke terminal at 11.20pm after two days away with work.
Just 25 minutes later, emergency services were called to Hale Road at the junction with the airport access road after Cooney’s Ford Focus collided with the female pedestrian.
Cooney provided a positive roadside test for cocaine after the incident and was later revealed to be using his mobile phone while driving in the moments before the fatal incident.
Detective Constable Jack Hearnden said: “This collision goes to highlight the dangers of using a mobile phone whilst driving and driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs.
“In this case, sending a text message containing a single word was enough of a distraction that Mr Cooney did not see the pedestrian crossing the road.
“That single word message combined with the fact that Cooney had illicit drugs in his blood cost Cinzia her life.
“Mr Cooney’s young family now no longer have him at home for Christmas which is a small penalty to pay in comparison with the life sentence imposed on the Ceravolo family.
“Drug driving and drink driving shatters lives. Just one drink above the limit, taking an illegal substance or certain prescription medication can slow your response time and significantly impair your ability to drive.
“If you injure, or even worse, kill another person after having had too much to drink or driving after having taken either legal or illegal drugs you will have to deal with it being on your conscience for the rest of your life. You will have to potentially see that person’s loved ones in court.
“The shame and guilt is horrendous, but that will be nothing compared to what your victim and their friends and family will be enduring.”