A teenager has been left with life-changing injuries after a drug driver fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into a school bus.
Nicky Newbon, a year 10 pupil from North Yorkshire, had to be airlifted to hospital after suffering severe injuries during the crash.
He was left with a head injury, knee fracture, broken collar bone, nerve damage and facial scarring, YorkshireLive reports.
The crash happened on December 10, 2018, when the teenager was 14, and he was left in hospital for 10 days after the crash.
The lorry driver, Thomas Abbott from Barnsley, was found to have eight different substances in his system at the time of the collision.
He was jailed for three years for two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was given a five-year driving ban.
Several months later, Nicky was discovered to have a contrecoup injury, which is when the force of the crash caused his brain to strike the skull opposite the impact.
Now 17, Nicky is under the care of a neurorehabilitation team and on medication for hid headaches and prevent seizures.
The teen has been forced to live on with a range of issues including tinnitus, impaired hearing and vision, pain and reduced mobility in his right leg and fatigue.
After the crash, Nicky returned on a part-time basis in February 2019 but struggled with his studies.
He managed to pass maths and science GCSEs and went onto to study IT, PE and geography at A Level, but he since was forced to drop IT and PE due to his cognitive difficulties and fatigue.
A Leeds United supporter, Nicky used to love playing football and hoped to play semi-professionally or join the army.
But the accident means both dreams might be out of reach.
He was able to return to playing football 10 months after the collision, despite headaches and dizziness.
His mum Karen said the accident has been devastating for her son.
She said; “Our whole lives changed in the space of a few seconds. Before the crash, he was very fit and active, enjoyed football and cycling, but he is now left with many issues, both physically and emotionally.
“I’m really not sure what the future holds for Nicky, but I expect he will need help for a long time. However, he’s determined not to let his injuries stop him from achieving what he wants and make the most out of life."
“All we can do now is help Nicky to work to make the best possible recovery he can. I just hope that by speaking out, others will realise what can happen if they don’t take care on the roads. I wouldn’t want anyone else going through what Nicky has.”
Following the crash, the family instructed solicitors to pursue a personal injury claim for Nicky.
She later transferred Nicky’s case to expert serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help him access the specialist rehabilitation and therapies he requires.
Lawyers have now secured an interim payment from the defendant’s insurers to fund support and rehabilitation.
David King, lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said: “Nicky is a well-liked and talented young man who sadly sustained serious injuries through no fault of his own, which has had a real impact on both him and his family.
“While nothing can make up for what Nicky has been through, he is making good progress in his recovery and we’re pleased to have been able to help him access the specialist rehabilitation he needs to overcome his injuries.
“Nicky still has significant difficulties and his story is a stark reminder of the consequences people are forced to face as a result of the actions of others. It’s vital that road users take care at all times to help prevent others from suffering like Nicky has.”
