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26
Aug
Dog walker suffers several fractures after collision at Harrogate drive-through junction
A woman was struck by a car whilst walking her dog in Harrogate, a court heard.
Charles Holgate, of the Kearby area, pleaded guilty to one count of causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (August 21).
Sarah Tyrer, prosecuting, told the court a collision occurred on Wetherby Road in Harrogate at around 12.15pm on March 20.
It happened at the Starbucks drive-through junction with Wetherby Road.
The court heard a named woman was walking along the road at the time after taking her dog for a walk at Hookstone Woods.
The victim saw a black car approaching the junction to leave Starbucks as she walked along the road.
The black car, driven by Holgate, stopped at the junction. Ms Tyrer said this led the victim to believe the driver was letting her cross the road.
The victim set off to cross the road, but the court heard:
But when I got level with the car, it began to move forward. I put my right hand out to push myself away… I fell and landed on my bottom.
Holgate, 18, then drove over the victim's legs before stopping.
The victim felt "extreme pain", the court heard.
Her statement added:
I recall hearing a male voice saying: ‘I’m sorry’.
My main concern was if my dog had been hit… I felt sick with pain.
The victim's dog was unharmed and a member of the public put her on her side until the paramedics arrived.
Holgate stayed at the scene after the collision and provided a negative roadside breath test and drug swipe.
Victim underwent 'several hours of invasive surgery'
The court heard the victim sustained a number of fractures to her lower body, including a fractured pelvis.
A statement taken by a person who witnessed the collision said they saw a car stop on Wetherby Road to allow Holgate to turn left at the junction.
The victim was on the left side of Holgate’s car when she started crossing the road, but the witness believed Holgate did not know he had hit the woman.
The weather was dry and sunny that day, the court heard.
A victim impact statement was prepared by the woman on April 20.
In it, she said the collision has “changed my life” after previously being a “very fit and active” person.
The court heard the victim underwent “several hours of invasive surgery”, and the incident has had a “significant effect emotionally”.
Defendant was ‘distraught’ at the scene, court hears
Andrew Tinning, defending, told the court Holgate was “distraught” and "in shock" at the scene of the incident.
Holgate, who was 17 at the time of the offence, made no comment when initially interviewed by police. Mr Tinning put this down to him “being in no fit state to say what happened”.
However, he went back to the police station in May and made a full admission to the offence.
The court heard after getting a coffee at Starbucks, Holgate approached the junction and looked to his right, as he was turning left on to Wetherby Road.
Another motorist stopped on Wetherby Road to allow Holgate to drive out.
Mr Tinning said Holgate then set off, adding:
What he did not appreciate was the victim was on his left.
Mr Holgate had not even seen [victim], let alone allowed her to cross.
Mr Tinning described the consequences of the collision as “terrible”, but said Holgate was extremely remorseful and “distraught about what happened”.
The court heard:
He simply did not check to his left and perhaps that was due to inexperience, as he had only been driving for a few months.
'This has been very traumatic for everyone involved'
The case was temporarily stood down for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.
A probation officer later told the court Holgate had been “very candid” about the incident.
Holgate told the officer Wetherby Road was very busy at the time of the collision, and he pulled out after another car had allowed him to go.
The court heard Holgate was very remorseful and understands both the physical and psychological impacts of the crash.
The defendant has tried to write a letter of apology to the victim, but this has not yet been forwarded to her.
The probation officer also said Holgate is moving to Canada for six months in November to teach young people how to ski.
Holgate does not have any criminogenic needs, the officer said, adding he also does not have physical or mental health problems.
Mr Tinning, defence, encouraged the magistrates to take Holgate’s age at the time into account when sentencing him.
He added:
What he has gone through should ensure when he gets his licence back will be extremely careful. This has been very traumatic for everyone involved.
The chair of the magistrates told Holgate the bench did "not want to make the next phase of your life any more difficult than it already is”.
“We appreciate this has been awful for you and the victim”, she added.
Holgate was banned from driving for a year and ordered to pay a total of £445.
This is broken down by a £257 fine, a £103 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.
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