Partner of pregnant woman killed in M66 crash speaks out

Frankie Hough, from Chadderton, was travelling on the M66 with her two sons, Tommy and Rocky, and her nephew, Tobias, on May 13 when the family were crashed into by a speeding driver.

The family were taken to hospital by air ambulance and while the youngsters remained in hospital in critical conditions for weeks, Frankie died two days later.

She was aged 38 and was 17 weeks pregnant with a baby girl she and her partner, Calvin Buckley, were going to call Neeve.

At her killer's sentencing, the court heard how Adil Iqbal was driving dangerously in his BMW.

The 22-year-old was weaving in and out of traffic, tailgating and undertaking other vehicles and was swerving across lanes, all while filming himself on his mobile phone before he lost control.

Frankie had pulled over on the hard shoulder after her tyre suffered a puncture when Iqbal crashed into them.

Adil Iqbal was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment (Image: SWNS)

On Wednesday, July 19 at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, Iqbal of Hope Street, Accrington, was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment and disqualified from driving for 14 years.

He pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and causing series injury.

The court also heard how Frankie had been on the phone to Tommy's father, Tom Spencer, to let him know she was running late when Mr Spencer said he heard a "blood-curdling scream".

In a statement following the sentencing, Rose Gibson-Harper, catastrophic injury partner at law firm Lime Solicitors who represented the family, branded the 12-year sentence "insulting".

She said it is also an "injustice to the catastrophic injuries little Tobias sustained and the life sentence Ms Hough's family were needlessly handed following her and her unborn daughter's death due to an act of sheer stupidity".

Now, Frankie's partner Calvin Buckley has spoken out about the sentence and the impact the crash and the loss of Frankie and Neeve has had on the family.

Appearing on BBC Breakfast, Mr Buckley described the crash scene as "like a horror movie" with a team of emergency services surrounding a child on the floor.

Frankie Hough was 38 years old and 17 weeks pregnant when she was killed (Image: GoFundMe)

He said: "When I looked at the car, I couldn't believe the children even got out of it.

"The back of the car was totally crushed.

"I was stood there in the chaos with her youngest son while they treated Frankie on the roadside just so they could get her to the hospital."

Mr Buckley said the family were then informed at the hospital that Frankie had suffered a serious brain injury and had been rushed into surgery to try to save her life.

Reflecting on Iqbal's sentencing, Mr Buckley said he thought the 12-year jail sentence was "lenient" and didn't reflect the devastation felt by the family.

He said: "It's not just about giving him a tougher sentence because we want to punish him and it's not that we want revenge for what's happened.

"It's like if people aren't getting tough sentences for this they're going to keep doing it and it's just disappointing and insulting to the family."

He also said people do not consider speeding a crime and they fail to see how dangerous it is.

"For him to be doing that, filming for a thrill, for his ego, the devastation and the impact that can cause, how is that worth it?"

Mr Buckley said he also wants to "make a difference" by sharing his story and is keen to go into schools and colleges to give talks.

He added: "I'd like to see something being done about it.

"It needs a campaign where there's adverts raising awareness.

"What happened to me I don't want to happen to other people."