High-speed driver left terrified victims in fear of lives
OUT-OF-CONTROL CAR CAUSED TWO CRASHES
A DRIVER racing through a 40mph zone at high speed left terrified road users fearing for their lives as he caused two crashes, with one car hurtling through the air.
One victim said in court: “It was the closest I’ve ever come to feeling I was going to die.”
Subham Suresh, 26, was said to have been driving his VW Golf at between 70mph and 80mph while “racing” a Jaguar in Loughborough Road, Birstall, in May last year.
VICTIMS have told a court of the terror they experienced when an out-of-control speeding driver caused two cars to crash.
Subham Suresh, 26, was said to have been driving his VW Golf at between 70mph and 80mph while “racing” a Jaguar in Loughborough Road, Birstall, when he caused the crash in May last year.
Witnesses described the Golf being driven aggressively, overtaking with very little room, causing other road users to slam on their brakes and undertaking in the 40mph area, Leicester Crown
Court was told.
The Golf was described as swerving into the middle lane, cutting up a car and clipping the back end of a black BMW in the left hand lane.
The BMW swerved out of control and spun 360 degrees, going on to a pavement and smashing into a lamppost.
The defendant’s Golf veered into the central reservation, becoming airborne and landed on the opposite side of the road.
Witnesses saw the car fly through the air and hit a 40mph speed limit post, which snapped.
A Mini Cooper driver had to swerve out of the Golf’s way, resulting in it crashing into a raised pavement at a bus stop.
The Mini driver attended court to read a victim impact statement, saying she had felt her life was “in jeopardy” when she saw an airborne “out- of- control, smoking car” heading straight at her from the other side of the road. She said: “It was hurtling, like something out of a movie.
“I had a second to avoid him, which was miraculous.
“It was the closest I’ve ever come to feeling I was going to die.”
She told the defendant sitting in the dock: “You could have so easily killed so many people that day.” Both drivers and each of their passengers were left shocked and traumatised as a result of the collision, which happened at 4.30pm on Sunday, May 24.
Although they suffered minor injuries, physiotherapy was needed for persistent pain and it caused them to lose confidence behind the wheel.
A woman victim in the BMW said: “When we were first hit I thought we were going to die.”
She described being on painkillers for two weeks and suffering emotional after-effects, mixed with anger and frustration.
Her partner also sustained a back injury, which caused difficulty lifting objects at work.
Suresh, of Asfordby Street, Spinney Hills, Leicester, who also had a passenger in his Golf, denied driving dangerously in Loughborough Road.
He was convicted following a magistrates’ court trial and committed to the crown court for sentencing.
The defendant, who has no previous convictions, told police after the incident that a car drove in front of him, causing the collision.
His airbag activated and he did not know what happened or what pedal he pressed and claimed he was driving normally. He denied excessive speed or racing with another vehicle.
Representing himself at the sentencing hearing, the defendant said he had been driving for five years and “I haven’t been involved in a court before”.
Sentencing, Recorder Sandeep Kainth told the defendant: “Your driving was disgraceful, absolutely shocking.
“Witnesses speak about you racing another driver, speeding at 70 to 80mph – that’s double the speed limit.
“Thank God no-one was injured more than what I’ve heard about.
“The impact of three victims I’ve heard statements from is enormous, not only physical pain but psychological harm, with distress caused to their loved ones.
“I can’t begin to imagine what it was like for those in the Mini when there’s a car flying through the air right towards them. It must have been petrifying, truly shocking.
“Your explanation was rejected by the magistrates who found you guilty. You did not acknowledge at any stage that your behaviour was wrong.
“I’ve read a pre-sentence report in which you seek to minimise your behaviour, with very little empathy for other road users.”
Suresh was given a nine-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months.
He was ordered to do 240 hours of unpaid work and banned from driving for 18 months.
Recorder Kainth asked Suresh if he had anything to say to the victims in the public gallery.
Before leaving the dock, he said: “I’m really really sorry for the impact the accident had on them.”
It was hurtling, like something out of a movie. I had a second to avoid him, which was miraculous.
Victim