This is the shocking moment a newly qualified young driver crashed headlong into a Jaguar after “flaunting” himself in front of a friend.
Footage shows the dangerous collision, and the reckless 17-year-old was later criticized for his “completely ridiculous” driving.
Gareth Jones was behind the wheel of a white Dacia alongside a female passenger when he ploughed into an oncoming Jaguar.
Video of the terrifying crash shows the Dacia accelerating around a curve and crossing into the oncoming lane where the red Jaguar is approaching.
Jones had been doing 49mph as he took the bend and veered across the road – losing all control of the motor.
Moments later, the cars collided with a “violent impact” and the other three affected people were seriously injured.
A court heard the Jaguar driver tried to swerve to avoid the crash but was ultimately forced to take the impact.
Jones, who had passed the test just three months ago, apologized to the other driver and admitted he was driving too fast.
The twist of fate took place near Newcastle Emlyn, west Wales, on the afternoon of May 30 last year.
Jones, now 19, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
Judge Paul Thomas KC told him the steering wheel had been “exposed”, with a female passenger next to him.
He later described the defendant’s driving as “stupid in the extreme” and “utterly ridiculous”.
Prosecutors said the driver of the Jaguar first refused medical attention from paramedics, but then went to the hospital.
He complained of whiplash on his back and neck and pain in his ribcage.
He later learned he was suffering from a brain hemorrhage after a CT scan.
Footage of the Jaguar shows its hood shattered in the crash while it was on the side of the road.
The teen driver was also left severely injured in the collision and spent 17 days in hospital where he had open bowel surgery.
Jones’ passenger suffered a laceration to her liver, a contusion to her lung and a fractured vertebra in her lower back.
She had to wear a corset for 3 months.
The injured passenger said Jones had picked her up in Carmathen the day before.
She said she was vocally concerned by the way Jones was driving and said it felt out of character.
He told the court she had asked him to turn around and take her back to Carmarthen before the collision.
Both victims also suffered mental and emotional issues as a result of the impact.
Jones’ passenger said in a statement that the accident was “overwhelming” and that the recovery procedure was “difficult. “
She also said she struggled to sleep and suffered with nightmares for some time afterwards.
This shook her self-confidence and forced her to drop out of college.
The driver of the Jaguar said he now feels worried and vulnerable every time he hits the road.
This led to “brain fog and confusion” as well as headaches that “became the norm. “
The man said his job had been made harder by the injuries he suffered as had his social activities such as snooker.
Jones’ barrister, Ian Ibrahim, said the defendant accepted his speed was “excessive for the vehicle, excessive for the corner, and excessive for his level of experience”.
Adding that its consumer “knows the devastation it has caused. ”
Judge Thomas explained that he may have sentenced the 19-year-old to a 3-year criminal sentence for his actions.
But due to his age at the time, he was forced to scale it back.
Due to Jones’ admission of guilt in his plea, the sentence was reduced to 18 months.
A sentence of less than two years allows the trial to be based on tax rules.
Thomas showed that he didn’t think Jones was a potential long-term recidivist and that he might realize the teenager had learned a valuable lesson.
As a result, the sentence was suspended.
The judge told the defendant: “The only thing that saves you from a quick police arrest is your age. “
In addition to his 18-month suspended sentence, Jones ordered completion of a rehabilitation course and 250 hours of unpaid networking.
He was also banned from driving for 3 years.
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