16-year-old schoolboy fled M1 accident carnage caused by appalling driving in BMW
TEENAGER WAS WEAVING IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC BEFORE SMASH
A lorry driver had to be cut free from the wreckage of his cab after being run off the road by a 16-year-old schoolboy driving a BMW.
The teenager, Cristian Pompa, stopped his car but then fled from the carnage on the M1 motorway, near Markfield, in another BMW he was in convoy with.
But he was arrested after his DNA was found on the blown airbag of his abandoned car, left on the southbound carriageway, near Junction 22.
Pompa, now 18, pleaded guilty at Leicester Crown Court to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, on Thursday, March 5 last year.
David Earl, prosecuting, said the defendant was at the wheel of a grey BMW that had been weaving in and out of traffic with a red BMW at 7.20am.
A woman in a Toyota, travelling at 65mph to 70mph, was struck from behind by the schoolboy’s vehicle, which sent her crashing into the central reservation, writing off her vehicle and causing her soft tissue injuries, requiring physiotherapy treatment.
The boy’s car then crashed into the front offside of a Volvo heavy goods vehicle.
Mr Earl said: “The impact wrenched the steering wheel from the lorry driver’s hands as the steering jammed. The vehicle left the carriageway, went down a bank and tipped on to its side.”
The driver was trapped in his cab and had to be cut out by the fire service.
The lorry was damaged beyond repair.
The prosecutor said: “The lorry driver’s injuries included three fractures to his spine, a broken right scapula and soft tissue damage to his shoulder and back. The pain was excruciating.”
He was off work for 11 weeks and has ongoing issues, including severe headaches, and is still on painkillers.
In a victim impact statement he said he suffers flashbacks and anxiety.
When passing the scene some time later, where the hedgerow is still damaged, he saw his flask still on the roadside.
The lorry driver said he realises how lucky he was to survive.
Mr Earl said the man was also a carer for his wife, who suffers from MS, and his injuries made it particularly difficult to look after her.
She was traumatised by the incident and seeing him in hospital.
Our sister paper the Leicester Mercury reported at the time how the crash left debris strewn across the carriageway and caused large queues, with the southbound exit for Leicester and Coalville blocked.
The court heard that when arrested, Pompa, of Park Avenue, Tottenham, London - who already has 11 non-dwelling burglaries and four thefts on his criminal record - gave a “no comment” interview and has never identified the driver of the red BMW who whisked him away from the crash scene.
Priya Bakshi, mitigating, said Pompa’s family were in court and his parents appreciated how serious the offence was.
At the time, Pompa was studying for his GCSEs and went on to pass his exams and was hoping to do a mechanics college course.
Miss Bakshi said Pompa was sorry and had since matured, now recognising the error of his ways.
She added: “There’s nothing I can say to excuse what he did. He says ‘I’m guilty and I was 16, to say sorry is not enough and if I could turn the clock back in time I would, I didn’t think of the consequences.
“‘I know I could have killed others and killed myself.’”
Sentencing, Judge Robert Brown said: “You were 16 years old and had no driving licence. You should not have been behind the wheel of a car or driving down the M1 motorway.
“Your driving was appalling and while attempting a manoeuvre, squeezing between two vehicles, you caused a serious collision.
“The lorry driver was trapped and had to be rescued by others at the scene, who turned off his engine because he was unable to.
“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 been following you and sped off.
“Fleeing the scene was utterly shameful.
“I’m told you’re now remorseful.” Pompa was sentenced to 16 months in detention.
He was banned from driving for two years and eight months.