A Scots driver who was seriously injured in a horror crash after a boy racer smashed into his car has spoken about the terrifying ordeal and said his 'life will never be the same'.
John Tunbridge, originally from Dundee, suffered life changing injuries following the smash when Jamie Walters ploughed into the side of his Audi A3 at a roundabout in Solihull.
The 67-year-old has been left with a stoma bag after undergoing major surgery to repair his bowel and had to spend six weeks in an induced coma.
For the first time since the incident in 2019 John has spoken of the impact on his life and said he is no longer the person he used to be, reports Birmingham Live.
Last week, the trio of boy racers who caused the massive collision were each jailed after pleading guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
Birmingham Crown Court heard James Walters, Daniel Tandy and Jack Coyne raced along Stratford Road at speeds of more than twice the legal limit.
A passenger in one of the cars, Morgan Cotterill, was also sentenced after attempting to cover up who one of the drivers was.
John, who is single and retired, has now spoken for the first time about his relief at hearing that all three drivers pleaded guilty.
And John, who is originally from Dundee, has used his experience to warn others of the consequences of dangerous driving.
The incident happened at about 11.30pm on 18 July, 2019, on the roundabout by the Porcelanosa tile store.
John’s red Audi A3 had just pulled on to the roundabout from Marshall Lake Road when a black Ford Fiesta driven by Walters approached the roundabout at speed.
Moments later the vehicles collided.
In the lead-up to the crash Walters had been driving in convoy with a grey BMW being driven by Tandy and a black Audi A1 being driven by then 17-year-old Coyne.
Walters and the two others had been travelling at speed for around 1.4 miles before the collision. Their driving and speeding was captured on various cameras as they travelled out of Birmingham city centre on the A34 Stratford Road.
Officers determined Walters speed to be approximately 62 mph moments before the crash. The speed limit on that road is 30mph.
After the hearing John, a former IT officer, said: “Fortunately I have no recollection of the collision. I have had to piece together what happened from evidence I have seen and heard. The collision happened in a split second but the effects of what happened are still with me. Life will never be the same again.
“I’m no longer the person I used to be. I enjoyed a happy retirement in the Midlands and used be active and enjoyed going out and meeting my friends but these injuries have left me very isolated.
“I have to rely heavily on a wheelchair as I sustained very serious injuries to my pelvis and legs. I will need to see if I can learn to drive again. My internal injuries were so severe that I now have a stoma. I am hoping that this can be reversed.
“My family has been amazing and have travelled from Dundee to support me when it has been able to. The collision has affected us all and it has been very difficult to adjust.
“Despite my injuries I want to try and remain as positive as possible and try and make the most of life.
“I just hope that by speaking out people realise the physical and emotional hurt and pain they can cause others by dangerous driving and they understand the need to take care.
“The sentencing is a major milestone for me. I now feel that I can try and look ahead rather than dwell on the past and focus on my recovery.”
John’s legal team at Irwin Mitchell have secured him an interim payment from the insurers of the driver who crashed into his car, enabling him to pay for the specialist support and rehabilitation that he needs.
Hilary Wetherell, the expert serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing John, said after the hearing: “Sadly through our work we too often see the consequences that dangerous driving can have on other road users. John’s case is just the latest example of this."
Walters, 18, of Yardley Wood, Birmingham, and Tandy, 23, of Highters Heath, Birmingham, were jailed for 18 months and 20 months respectively.
Coyne, 18, of Kings Norton, was jailed for three years for his role in the crash as well as other offences.
Morgan Cotterill, aged 19, from Jervoise Drive, Northfield, was given a six-month sentence for perverting for course of justice, which was suspended for 18 months.
.jpg?w=600)
