Dangerous street race led to bystander losing leg

Motorists have been warned of the dangers of street racing after a pedestrian had to have his leg amputated.

Driver Craig King was behind the wheel when he lost control of his car while attempting an undertake at an illegal car meet.

After committing to the dangerous manoeuvre while racing around a roundabout, King’s Mini-Cooper collided with a Volkswagen Golf.

The Golf was shunted onto a ‘splitter island’ between the entry and exit lanes to the roundabout, where a group of car enthusiasts had gathered for the unauthorised meeting.

It mounted the kerb and crashed straight into one of the cars parked on the ‘splitter island’, trapping the leg of a 32-year-old pedestrian between two of the parked cars.

He sustained catastrophic injuries following the collision on the A6097 in Bingham on 3 June 2018, including fractures to his neck, shoulder blade, spine and pelvis.

The man also suffered serious open fractures to his left leg and had to have it amputated as a result – a life-changing injury that is still being felt more than four years later.

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, while the race around the makeshift track went on, and it was near one of these where the man was hit.

King, of Norwich Gardens, Bulwell, was found guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving on 18 March 2022, following a week-long trial at Nottingham Crown Court.

He returned to the same court for sentencing today (7 September 2022), where he was jailed for two years and six months. He 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, of Nottinghamshire Police’s serious collision investigation unit, 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.”