IPSWICH: Gone – but never forgotten.

It is exactly two years since a speeding drink-driver killed two friends as they walked home from a night out.

For the relatives and loved ones of Emma Harold and Kate Wasyluk, life would never be the same again.

But today, the friends’ families are determined to honour their memories – and turn the devastating tragedy into a force for good.

Emma, of Foxhall Road, was just 26 when she and Kate, 25, of Irlam Road, were killed when a car being driven by Scott Nicholls, then 20, mounted the pavement in Foxhall Road and struck them.

Rebecca Harold, Emma’s younger sister, suffered devastating injuries in the horror crash, which happened in the early hours of February 21, 2009.

The friends were just yards from home after a night out at the St Clements Social Club.

Nicholls, who was nearly twice the drink-drive limit, had been driving at an estimated 50mph in the 30mph zone when he hit the trio.

He was disqualified from driving at the time. Police found traces of ecstasy in his blood and discovered he had taken heroin the day before.

Emma’s elder sister Michelle Luetchford, of Tomline Road, said her family were adamant a positive should come from their loss.

They have campaigned to raise awareness of road safety issues and held fundraising events to support the charity Brake.

“It is two years since the crash,” she said. “For many people it is forgotten. But for us it is on going, particularly for Beccy who is still living with the injuries. She won’t get any better from here on.

“We are determined to do something positive, to help keep Emma’s memory alive.”

The family have already raised thousands of pounds for Brake and to mark what would have been Emma’s 28th birthday on March 26, friends and members of the family are preparing for a charity skydive in her honour.

Last year Emma’s fianc� Mohammad Alilibrahim took on the challenge to honour her memory.

The family visited a tree planted in Emma’s memory in Christchurch Park yesterday to lay flowers to mark the anniversary.

“It is still so hard, we all miss her so much,” said Mr Alilibrahim. “She was a wonderful person and there is a big part of the family missing.

“We have to stay positive and do things to help other families avoid this pain.

“Hopefully people will read this about Emma and it will make them think.

“We want people to be more aware of road safety, to think before they get behind the wheel.”

And Mrs Luetchford added: “We have pulled together as a family.

“We have to stay positive and the fundraising helps us, it keeps us going.”

She urged motorists to think before getting behind the wheel.

“If you have had a drink, don’t drive,” she added. “Stay within the speed limit.

“Cars can become dangerous weapons, with devastating consequences.”

Nicholls, formerly of West Villa, Woodbridge Road, is currently serving an eight-year prison sentence after being convicted of dangerous driving at Ipswich Crown Court in September 2009.

n Are our road laws tough enough? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk