Drug-driver jailed after girl, 13, pinned against railings in Birmingham horror crash
A drug-driver has been jailed after a schoolgirl was seriously injured
A drug-driver has been jailed after losing control of his car and crashing into a schoolgirl in Northfield, Birmingham.
David Campbell, 37, veered off Bell Hill on 3 September 2024 and hit the 13-year-old, pinning her against railings and seriously injuring her.
The teenager was left with a bleed on the brain, depressed skull, and fractured spine.
Members of the public helped keep Campbell at the scene and comforted the girl until emergency services arrived.
During police interviews, Campbell claimed he had had an epileptic seizure, which made him crash.
Doctors had told him a number of times not to drive due to his condition, which he ignored. He also failed to take his medication and didn't notify the DVLA of his epilepsy.
Test results showed cocaine and cannabis in his system.
He was charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving whilst unfit through drugs, possession of class A drugs, possession of an offensive weapon, and driving with a proportion of a controlled drug over the legal limit.
The 37-year-old of Bridgeburn Road, Birmingham pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison. He was also banned from driving for six years and two months, which will start from when he is released from prison.
PC Aroon Aftab, from the Road Traffic Investigation Team, said: "Campbell had a choice that day and he chose to drive under the influence of drugs. He also knew that he was not taking his epilepsy medication and had chosen to ignore the advice of doctors.”
“The choices he made, and his selfish actions caused serious injury to a young girl who was just going about her day waiting to cross the road.
"I want to thank the members of the public who helped that day. They helped to keep the young girl calm in what must have been a terrifying ordeal for her.
“I hope that this sentence is a lesson, for people to think and make the right choice before they drive.”