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A DRIVER has admitted killing an eight-month-old baby boy and his aunt in a horror crash.

Zackary Blades and Karlene Walker, 30, were travelling on the A1 in County Durham when Darryl Anderson ploughed into their car.

Zackary Blades was killed in the crash
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Zackary Blades was killed in the crashCredit: PA
His aunt Karlene Walker also died in the horror
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His aunt Karlene Walker also died in the horrorCredit: PA

Tragically the pair could not be saved and were both declared dead at the scene.

Anderson, 38, today pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous in front of 30 grieving members of Zackary and Karlene's family.

He denied unlawfully possessing a knife and an axe at the time of the crash, with his plea accepted by prosecutors.

Judge Joanne Kidd said the family had only just heard some distressing details about the crash but did not go into further detail.

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Anderson was remanded into custody to be sentenced on July 9.

The horror unfolded on May 31 as Zackary's mum drove her baby son and Karlene in her Peugeot 308.

Anderson, who was travelling in an Audi Q5, crashed into the trio - killing both Zackary and his aunt.

His mum Shalorna Warner suffered minor injuries in the tragic crash.

She and Zackary's dad later paid tribute to their son, saying: "I'm so sorry you never got to grow up.

"Our little Zack - mammy and daddy love you so much, you didn't deserve any of this.

"You were such a happy, cheeky boy.

"I am so sorry this has happened - our hearts are truly broken. We will never forget you, you will always be in our hearts."

The family also paid tribute to Karlene, saying: "How do we put into words to describe the amazing mother, partner, daughter, sister, granddaughter, auntie, niece, and friend Karlene was?

"You light up every room you walked into like the bright shining diamond that you were.

"You had so much to look forward to in life and that has been taken."

Shocking pictures showed the aftermath of the crash
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Shocking pictures showed the aftermath of the crashCredit: NNP
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