Teen left with life-changing injuries after speeding driver crashes in Alton
Driver jailed for 2 years and 10 months for dangerous driving
A teenage girl suffered life-changing injuries after a speeding driver crashed on a wet road in Alton.
Leo Michael George Critchley, 21, of Babs Field, Bentley, Farnham, lost control of his grey Seat Ibiza while driving at 90mph on a 60mph road.
He hit standing water on Froyle Road, Lower Froyle, leading to a single-vehicle collision that was reported to police at 9.26pm on 14th November 2023.
Critchley and his 17-year-old front seat passenger were both taken to hospital following the crash. The teenage girl sustained life-changing neurological injuries and visual impairment.
At Winchester Crown Court on Friday 28th November, Critchley pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He was sentenced to 2 years and 10 months in prison, and received a 5 year and 5 month driving ban.
In court, the teenager's Victim Personal Statement was read aloud, where she said:
"I'm not normal because of him. I will never be normal. He needs to know how much I suffered and how much I'm suffering every day. I lost everything."
PC Kelly Hargreaves, from the Roads Policing Unit, commented on the incident:
“Any sensible driver would know they need to adjust their speed to the conditions and that when the road is wet, they should drive slower than usual.
“The defendant did the complete opposite of this. He instead recklessly and dangerous sped along the wet road at high speeds with no regard for his own safety or the safety of his passenger.
“I hope this sentence sends a clear message: There is no excuse for speeding and when you are caught you will face severe consequences.”