Warning by Wiltshire Police of the consequences of driving
"His survival was nothing short of a miracle"
Wiltshire Police are today (7 July) sharing the details of a crash in which it's said the driver's 'survival was nothing short of a miracle'.
It happened back on November 17, 2023, when a BMW collided head-on with an oncoming car on the A30 at Donhead St Mary.
All three occupants - including two children - were seriously injured.
He had been drinking, was speeding and was not wearing a setbelt.
“He lost control on a bend while attempting to overtake another vehicle and struck the oncoming car head-on,” said PC Phil Hackford of the Forensic Collision Investigation Unit.
The driver pleaded guilty to three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was sentenced to two years in prison.
He will be banned from driving for two years once released from custody.
The two children in the Toyota suffered serious injuries, including a fractured pelvis that required hospital treatment. The driver sustained a fractured sternum.
The driver's own injuries were extensive: a fractured jaw, fractured sternum, collapsed lung, dislocated hip, fractured tibia, and a displaced femoral artery — injuries that required care at a major trauma centre.
Wiltshire Police have been sharing the details of these driving offences - which were all part of the so-called 'Fatal 5'.
Results from investigations show that road users who commit one of the these offences are far more likely to be involved in a fatal collision than those who do not.
As road traffic collisions typically increase in July, Wiltshire Police is reminding motorists of the dangers of the #Fatal5. These are the top five offences endangering road users today:
- Excessive and inappropriate speed
- Using a mobile phone
- Drink and drug driving
- Failing to wear a seatbelt
- Careless driving