Driver convicted after boy severely hurt in major coach crash
ACOACH driver with an “impeccable record” of driving all over Europe caused an eight-vehicle crash in which an 11-year-old boy suffered potentially life-changing injuries.
William Terry Morgan was behind the wheel of a single-decker coach travelling from Pontardawe during morning rush hour on June 4 last year when he ploughed into the back of a queue of stationary traffic on the A4067.
The collision with the cars in front of the coach caused a “domino effect” resulting in damage to seven other vehicles plus a number of injuries to people inside, with the most serious being to the 11-year-old child.
Swansea Crown Court was told the young victim was taken by air ambulance to Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital in Cardiff while his anguished father was taken to Morriston Hospital for emergency treatment, where he waited to learn of his son’s condition.
Prosecutor Paul Hobson said: “The prosecution says the defendant would have had a good view of the road ahead. Although the road surface was wet he failed to react for some reason to the queue of traffic ahead and ploughed into the back.
“One witness described it as like a snow plough driving into the back of the vehicle and said it was a dominolike collision.”
Mr Hobson said a police investigation later revealed there had been no defects to the road surface and no contaminants on it. A study of the coach’s tachograph later revealed the vehicle had been travelling at about 35mph coming down the hill towards the site of the collision but the brakes had been applied just 1.5 seconds before impact.
“The final conclusion when considering the view of the road to the driver, from an elevated position and with prior knowledge [of the stretch of road], meant it was entirely avoidable,” added Mr Hobson.
“Whether it was a distraction or daydreaming he was not paying attention.”
The court was also told that the young victim suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of the collision, as well as a fracture to his left femur, requiring a pin to be inserted.
He received treatment in intensive care for three weeks following the accident and remained in hospital for a total of 10 weeks.
Ian Ibrahim, representing Morgan, said: “This gentleman is 76 and prior to this has led a blameless life.”
Morgan, of Carmarthen Road in Cross Hands, who had pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, was sentenced by Judge Paul Thomas QC to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work. He was also disqualified from driving for three years, after which he will have to carry out an extended driving test.