A MUM and her daughter burned to death in a horror fireball after a driver high on drugs and using TikTok crashed into them.
Emma Van der Avoird, 55, was driving her daughter Khiana, 16, to school in November 2021 when they were ploughed into.
The pair, from Cambridgeshire, were sat in stationary traffic during rush hour when Luke Flanagan's Transit went into the back of their Peugeot.
The vehicle was thrown four feet into the air before bursting into flames - which also spread to Flanagan's van.
Flanagan, now 28, was high on cocaine when he tragically killed the mum and daughter on the A421 near Renhold, Bedfordshire.
Two New York cops stabbed during celebrations in Times Square
Dashcam footage from the scene showed Emma coming to a stop as she approached a queue.
Following behind, Flanagan made no efforts to brake or slow down as he scrolled through the TikTok app.
The court heard Flanagan attempted to rescue Emma and Khiana from the wreckage - leaving him with facial burns.
However, the mum and daughter sadly died at the scene.
In a statement at the time, their family said: “Our family is overcome with sadness and grief at Emma and Khiana’s death in such tragic circumstances.
“They were both vibrant, strong and forthright people. Emma was on her way to take Khiana to Bedford Modern School, where she was a bright and popular student.
“Emma and Khiana were as close as any mother and daughter could be.
"Emma was a devoted mother who had poured her heart and soul into caring for Khiana since the sudden death of their husband and father Ed 10 years ago.
“Khiana was at the start of her life and was a beautiful and talented girl.
“We are devastated that they have been wrenched from us when both of them still had so much living to do.
At least nine killed after New Year's Day stampede at shopping centre
“We will all miss Emma and Khiana dearly but take some comfort in the fact they have been reunited as a family.”
Flanagan was today jailed for five years and seven months at Luton Crown Court after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.
He was also banned from driving for nearly five years.
Prosecutor Martin Mulgrew said Flanagan gave a reading of 114 for cocaine in his body - meaning he was two times over the limit.
Flanagan claimed he had taken the Class A drug on the Saturday.
Mr Mulgrew said: “The defendant was interacting with the TikTok app on his phone, which was in a cradle.”
Judge Michael Simon, sentencing, said: “Almost immediately liquid could be seen flooding out from the offside of the Peugeot and within seconds the liquid ignited and the car burst into flames, with the conflagration extending to the defendant’s van as well.
“To his credit the defendant immediately got out of his van and made attempts to help the driver of the burning car, but the heat was so intense that there was nothing he or anyone else could do.”
He added: “Life is precious. The coming to an end of a life is always a matter of sadness.
"In this case that tragedy is magnified not only by the loss of two precious lives, but also by the personal circumstances of the deceased.
"They had themselves been bereaved of their father and husband with the sudden death of Mr Ed Van Der Avoird.”
Defending, Alistair MacDonald KC, said Flanagan, who had no previous convictions or cautions, has had counselling to deal with flashbacks and PTSD since the incident.
