A former Brookside star has admitted causing serious injury to 12-year-old girls after he ran them down last year.
Louis Emerick Grant, often credited as Louis Emerick, drove into the two girls as they were crossing Poulton Road, Wallasey on October 2, 2022. The Liverpool Echo reports that the girls had been halfway across the road when Grant cut the corner of a bend and ran into them.
Grant, best known for starring as Mick Johnson in the Channel 4 soap, was not seen to slow down or brake in the moments before the incident happened. Prosecutors said one girl sustained a fractured leg while the other suffered a fractured leg and ankle as well as a broken nose, jaw and teeth.
Both were out of school for months after being treated at Alder Hey Children's Hospital. Grant, who passed a breathalyser test at the scene, blamed sunlight for the crash, but accepted that he should have reduced his speed while his visibility was impaired.
The actor, who has since appeared in a number of TV programmes including Coronation Street, Vera and Doctors, apologised for the incident and had fully cooperated with the investigation, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) told the court. He pleaded guilty to two charges of causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving at Wirral Magistrates' Court on May 23 and will be sentenced next month.
Linda Melia, district crown prosecutor, said: "This was an extremely distressing incident and the two girls suffered serious injuries as a result of what happened on that day. Louis Emerick Grant was not speeding but admitted that he couldn't see clearly because of the sun so he should have slowed down.
"The sun visor of the car was not down. He has been fully cooperative and remorseful throughout the investigation and has apologised on numerous occasions.
"He has been in contact with both families and has apologised to them too. He tested negatively at the roadside for drink and drugs.
"When we drive a car we are in control of something powerful that, if we lose concentration or clear vision for a minute, can cause serious injury, even death. It's clear Mr Grant did not mean to injure these girls, but the events of that day are a lesson that, when we are at the wheel of a car, care and attention are needed at all times.
"When we don't drive carefully or considerately we are breaking the law and this case is an example of how serious the results of that can be. The Crown Prosecution Service would like to thank the girls and their families for their help in bringing this prosecution."
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