A spectator was left with catastrophic injuries and had to have his left leg amputated after a car lost control during an illegal meeting in Nottinghamshire. The collision on the A6097 in Bingham on June 3, 2018, left the man with fractures to his neck, shoulder blade, spine and pelvis.
His left leg had to be amputated because of serious open fractures. The horrific injuries were caused after driver Craig King lost control of his car whilst attempting an undertake at an illegal car meet. King did this whilst he was racing around a roundabout. His Mini-Cooper collided with a Volkswagen Golf which was shunted onto a ‘splitter island’ between the entry and exit lanes to the roundabout at Bingham.
A group of car enthusiasts had gathered for the unauthorised meeting on this area and, as the car mounted the kerb, it crashed into another car parked on the 'island' which trapped a pedestrian between two of the parked cars.
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Four years on from the crash, the man, whose leg was amputated, said it made him realise the risks associated with illegal meets. He said: “I used to attend unofficial car meets like this one because I liked looking at modified cars and enjoyed the thrill of watching the racing.
"I hadn’t really considered the risks involved until what happened to me. I wish it hadn’t taken something like this to make me realise the risks - but unfortunately it did. The unofficial car meets have no rules, some people just go to show off their modified cars but there is also racing where some people are dangerous.
“I hope what happened to me makes other people realise this, and stick to the planned, legal events which ensure the safety of those attending. I also want to thank everyone that helped me on the night of the crash, both the emergency services and members of the public who saved my life.”
King, now 40, was among a large group of car enthusiasts who had gathered to watch or take part in the races on the night of the collision. Motorists parked their cars on the footways around Bingham Island, whilst the race around the makeshift track went on, and it was near one of these where the man was hit.
Following a week-long trial at Nottingham Crown Court earlier this year, King, of Norwich Gardens, Bulwell, was found guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. On Wednesday (September 7) he was jailed for two years and six months.
King was also disqualified from driving for six years and three months, meaning he'll remain banned for five years from the point he is released from prison on licence halfway through his sentence. King was also told he'd have to pass an extended driving test before he will be allowed back on the roads after the disqualification period has ended.
Sergeant Craig Luckett, of Nottinghamshire Police’s road policing team, said: “By racing on a public highway, King gave absolutely no thought for the safety of himself or others. His actions resulted in a devastating injury which will have lifelong consequences for the victim and his family.
“Driving of this nature, and the blatant disregard to other road users and members of the public, will never be tolerated.” Collision Investigator Louise Melbourne added: “This was a completely preventable collision, which tragically left an innocent bystander with serious injuries that he’ll have to live with for the rest of his life.
“Incidents such as this are precisely the reason why we spend so much effort as a force trying to crack down on motorists who drive dangerously and put others in danger. Throughout the unauthorised meeting, the road was still being used by members of the public going about their routine journeys, so the fact nobody else was injured was only down to pure luck. As this case has sadly shown, this type of racing is incredibly dangerous, and it only takes one mistake for motorists and others around them to be placed at serious risk of harm.”
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