A truck driver got a broken back and had to be cut out of his crumpled cab after being hit by the road by a 16-year-old boy driving in a BMW.
Another motorist was lucky enough to escape serious injury when her Toyota crashed into the central reserve after being hit from behind by Christian Pompa on the M1 last spring.
The teenager, now 18, was flying in and out of traffic near Leicester Services when he was driven into the front of the HGV after hitting the back of the car shortly before 7.30am on 5 March.
Prosecutor David Earl told Leicester Crown Court: ‘The impact pushed the steering wheel out of the truck driver’s hands as the steering wheel got stuck. The vehicle left the lane, went down a bank and tipped to the side. ‘
The court heard that the truck was written off, as was the Toyota, and the driver had to be cut out of the cab by the fire department.
Mr Earl continued: ‘The truck driver’s injuries included three fractures of the spine, a broken right shoulder blade and soft tissue injuries to his shoulder and back.
‘The pain was unbearable.’
While lying in pain waiting to be rescued, Pompa jumped out of his vehicle and into a red BMW that had been woven in and out of traffic with him and was whipped away from the scene.
Pompa, from Tottenham in north London, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and was detained for 16 months. He was also banned from driving for two years and eight months.
Mr Earl told the court the truck driver was out of work for 11 weeks after the accident and still suffering from ongoing problems including severe headaches.
As he drove past the site sometime later, the driver spotted his butt next to the road near the damaged fences and realized how lucky he had been to survive, he added.
The prosecutor said he is also a caregiver for his wife who has MS and his injuries made it particularly difficult to care for her.
Priya Bakshi defended that Pompa had studied for his GCSEs and passed his exams, hoping to do a mechanics course.
She said Pompa was upset and had since matured, adding: ‘I can not say anything to apologize for what he did.
‘He says:’ ‘I’m guilty and I was 16, saying sorry is not enough and if I could turn the clock back in time I would do it. I did not think about the consequences. I know I could have killed others and killed myself.
Judge Robert Brown told Pompa: ‘Your driving was horrific and while attempting a maneuver and squeezing between two vehicles you caused a serious collision.
‘The truck driver was trapped and had to be rescued by others on the spot who turned off his engine because he was unable to do so. There are ongoing consequences for him.
‘Your vehicle stopped, but instead of going back to see how the other drivers were, you got into a car that had followed you and drove off.
‘Fleeing the place was utterly shameful.’
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