Man jailed following Great Yarmouth seafront collision
Zack Garrido was sentenced to six years in jail.
A man has been jailed for six years after a fatal collision on Great Yarmouth's seafront.
25-year-old Zack Garrido, of Mill Road, Burgh Castle, was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court today after pleading guilty to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving. He has also been banned from driving for eight years.
The court heard that on the evening of the 27th of August 2024, Garrido had been driving a Tesla Model 3 up and down South Beach Parade. At approximately 9.45pm, he hit a pedestrian who was crossing the road.
The pedestrian, 39-year-old Paul Leavy, died at the scene as a result of his injuries.
Subsequent police investigations found that Garrido had been travelling at speeds of up to 80mph before he hit Mr Leavy. The road's speed limit is 30mph.
In a statement read in court, Paul's daughter spoke about losing her Father.
She said, "I find myself missing him in the most normal, everyday moments. When I’m doing things like gardening or decorating, I think of how my dad would do them, and can hear his voice explaining things to me and when I get stuck, I think about messaging him, only to remember that I can't".
"No sentence given by this court can give us back the time, the closure, or the millstones that were stolen from us. The defendant's actions have left my family with a permanent, multi-generational loss that we are still trying to process".
In another statement Paul's former partner described him as a "loving father, a devoted son, a caring friend, a hardworking provider and a man who quietly helped others whenever he could".
She continued: "The day Paul died, our lives changed forever. We did not just lose someone we loved; we lost the future we were supposed to have with him".
"The consequences of Paul's death did not end on the day he died. They continue every single day in our home and they will continue for the rest of our lives".
Following the sentencing, investigating officer Detective Constable Kelly Dale said, "Our thoughts remain with Paul Leavy's family and friends."
“Zack Garrido made a decision that night to drive recklessly and put the safety of other people at risk."
“The pain Paul's family continues to live with cannot be undone by any sentence, but I hope today’s outcome provides some recognition of the seriousness of Garrido's actions."
“This case is also a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of driving too fast - and we will continue working to put irresponsible and dangerous drivers before the courts.”