THE relatives of a young girl killed in a crash caused by a drink-driver have told of how the incident “devastated” the family.

Ten-year-old Evey Staley died after the family car she was travelling in was hit by a driver two and a half times over the drink-drive limit on the Isle of Wight last year.

The driver, Robert Blakely, had also been smoking cannabis.

Now her heartbroken family are speaking out for the first time as part of Hampshire Constabulary's Is It Worth The Risk? anti-drink and drug driving campaign ahead of the Christmas season.

As reported by the Daily Echo, Evey and her mum and dad, Neal and Penny Staley, got in the car to buy sprinkles to make cupcakes before tragedy struck in Newport.

Her parents suffered serious injuries while young Evey was air lifted to Southampton General Hospital.

Evey's aunt and uncle, Hayley and Alan Staley, looked after her sister Ellie after the crash, and described the heartbreaking moment police informed them their niece had died.

Hayley said: “I remember thinking she (Evey) has gone to Southampton, she's going to be OK. You've got to stop this.

“I got Ellie off to bed and it wasn't very long after the police knocked on the door to give us the news.“She should have had her mum and dad at a time like this. There was no question we wanted her to come with us.

“She slept in my bed with me, just in pieces.

“It's just not worth it. The way I see it, some people have a glass of wine after work to relax. Why do you want to be relaxed when you get behind the wheel? You need to be focused on what you're doing.

“It's just not worth it. The devastation this family have been through because of someone's decision to do that. I cannot tell you the things we have been involved in with Neal and Penny over the last year. The conversations we have had to have.”

Alan added: “The thing I will never forget is the day of the funeral, pushing my brother in his wheel chair up the church isle to his ten year old daughter's funeral.”

Hayley added: “Two days before this happened, Alan and I were talking in the kitchen and there had been another accident on the island. I said that poor family, what they are going through must be terrible. He hugged me and said we're so lucky.

“Two days later we lost Evey. Luck runs out for some people.”