Moment drug-taking teen drives enormous tractor into wrong lane and crushes car
A heart-stopping video shows the moment a drug[1]-taking teenager loses control of a tractor and drives it over a car[2] in the opposite lane.
Tyler Sowerby, 19, is seen smashing his Case iH tractor head-on into the front of a Honda, before crushing the vehicle underneath its enormous wheels.
Incredibly the driver of the Honda, William Davis, survived, managing to climb out of his vehicle without any serious injuries.
Sowerby of Lazonby, near Penrith in Cumbria, appeared in court yesterday and admitted careless driving and driving while unfit through drugs, reports the Daily Mail.[3]
He had previously admitted a separate drug-driving offence committed in February last year after he was stopped by police. A blood test showed he was over the legal driving limit for cocaine. The court heard he had no previous convictions.
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The car is seen disappearing under the wheels of Tyler Sowerby's tractor (
ITV News)
Photos showing the extensive damage to the Honda were presented at Carlisle Magistrates' Court, which heard that Mr Davis had been driving along the A1101 at Beck Row in Suffolk on September 24 last year a little after 12pm.
Sowerby was driving in the opposite direction, pulling a trailer "loaded with grain" and "swerving along the road", the court heard.
The video shows the tractor crossing over the central reservation, and directly into the path of Mr Davis, who stops his car.
Sowerby continues to drive forward, hitting the Honda head-on, before driving over it. The tractor then overturns, landing on its side.
Prosecutor Graeme Tindall told the court that Mr Davis had believed Sowerby would correct his path and drive back into his lane.
"When I show you the photographs, you will be amazed there are no serious injuries," Mr Tindall said.
Tyler Sowerby, pictured, received an eight-week jail term suspended for 12 months (
Tyler Sowerby/Facebook)
Sowerby's lawyer said he came from a 'very difficult' background (
Tyler Sowerby/Facebook)
Sowerby's solicitor, Duncan Campbell told the court his client, who was found with amphetamine in his system, had "lost control" of the tractor.
He said: "Thank goodness nobody was injured. I think this young man was taken to hospital, that was precautionary. The Honda driver was uninjured. It was not as serious as it could have been."
According to a detailed probation service pre-sentence report, Sowerby came from a "very difficult" background.
Mr Campbell said the teenager had dealt with things most people don't have to. He also explained that the young man had "delved into the drug world" but this was now "at an end".
Sowerby was sentenced to an eight-week jail term suspended for 12 months and must complete a rehabilitation requirement by working with the probation service for up to 10 days. He must also carry out 60 hours of unpaid work and received a three-year driving ban.