A HGV driver seriously injured a man when he crashed into a minibus, which was taking a group of young adults with additional needs to school.
Andrew Ward was behind the wheel of the red lorry when he pulled out of a junction and directly into the path of the Ford transit vehicle on a dual carriageway, in Cramlington. A court heard that the minibus couldn't avoid striking the back of the truck, despite taking evasive action.
Prosecutors said that the passengers were immediately rescued from the vehicle but the driver was trapped for more than an hour and had to be cut free. He was taken to hospital where it was discovered he'd suffered a broken elbow, cuts to his head, arms and legs and bruising to the left side of his body.
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The victim was transferred from Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, where he had to undergo surgery. He was finally discharged after three days on a ward.
Now, Ward, of Lynnwood Terrace, in Arthur's Hill, Newcastle, has been banned from the roads for 12 months after he pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by careless driving. He was also fined £200 and must pay £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.
Rehana Haque, prosecuting at South East Northumberland Magistrates' Court, said the victim was driving a group of young adults with additional needs to school or college on September 22 last year and was travelling along Fisher Lane, in Cramlington. Reading from the man's statement, Ms Haque continued: "As I approached the junction with Nelson Way, a red HGV lorry approached the junction from the left.
"I was expecting it to stop but, without stopping, it continued performing a righthand turn directly in front of me. I performed an emergency brake. I attempted to swerve but it was unsuccessful and I collided with the rear of the HGV.
"I was trapped in the vehicle. The passengers had been removed but I was trapped in the vehicle for an hour and had to be cut free by the fire service."
The court heard that the victim was taken to NSEC, where the level of his injuries were discovered. In a statement, he said: "I feel lucky to still be alive, especially after seeing the state of the vehicle after the accident. I also think my quick actions saved my passengers from serious injury and prevented the incident from ending in a fatality."
Magistrates were told that Ward was working for Murray Hogg at the time but had only been employed by them for three weeks. Ward claimed he'd seen the minibus but thought he'd have time to get out into the carriageway.
Nina Lewis, defending, added: "He looked and saw the approaching vehicles but thought they were sufficiently far back in distance for him to clear the junction. It's the back end of the lorry where contact is made. Another couple of seconds and he would have cleared the carriageway and the accident would not have happened."
The court was told that Ward would lose his job and it was unlikely he'd work as an HGV driver in the future.
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