Food bank van crash tore woman’s life apart when driver had seizure
VICTIM’S SISTER PLEADS WITH MOTORISTS WHO SUFFER BLACKOUTS TO ENSURE THEY SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE
A WOMAN suffered multiple skull fractures, a bleed on the brain and crippling ankle injuries when a van ploughed into people queuing for a food bank.
The driver who knocked her down was jailed for two years and six months but his 35-year-old victim must live with the consequences for the rest of her life.
She has been left with seizures, hearing loss, short-term memory loss and her ankle injuries have caused mobility and balance problems.
Van driver Martin Casey suffered a seizure while at the wheel. It was the third time in a month that he had caused an accident due to a blackout when driving.
The woman, who has not been named, was one of five hurt when Casey’s van hit the group of people outside a community centre in Kirk Hallam on July 5, 2019.
She spent a week in intensive care after the collision and still suffers to this day.
At the time of the collision she was attending a life skills course at college and working as a cosmetics saleswoman.
She has been unable to return to either because of her injuries and can no longer take her dog for long walks.
Now her sister, who was also in the queue on the day of the crash, has spoken out about the devastating impact the crash has had on the family.
She is also encouraging motorists who may have suffered blackouts or seizures to ensure they seek medical advice to determine whether they are safe to continue driving. She said: “The last few months have been incredibly difficult for all the family but particularly my sister. “We are so grateful that she is still with us. However, she is a different person since the collision and has lost a lot of her independence, which has been difficult.
“The circumstances of the crash have been particularly hard to take for us all.
“We just hope that by speaking out it raises the importance of people who may have suffered blackouts seeking medical advice to establish whether they are safe to drive.
“We wouldn’t want anyone else to go through what our family and in particularly what my sister has over the last year.”
Nottingham Crown Court heard that the incident was the third time in a month that Casey, 38 at the time, of Long Eaton, had caused an accident after a blackout at the wheel.
Days before, on June 26, he crashed into the same community centre and then collided with another vehicle four days later.
The court was told that he had suffered a serious brain trauma following a car crash in 2002.
Casey had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and one count of dangerous driving.
The woman’s family instructed expert serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help her access the specialist rehabilitation and support she requires because of her injuries.
Lawyer Harriet Trail, who is representing the family, said: “Our client suffered major injuries in the collision and her family feared she may not survive. While thankfully she did survive, her injuries continue to have a major impact on her life.
“Her case vividly highlights the consequences innocent people can be left to face because of the dangerous actions of others.
“We will continue to support the family to help them access the specialist support the woman needs to maximise her recovery.”
We are so grateful that she is still with us. However, she is a different person
Victim’s sister