Moment drug driver tries to overtake car before crashing head-on with a Warburtons lorry
- Driver Michael Wilkinson was in a wheelchair for a year following crash in 2021
- Police admitted that they were ‘surprised’ that the crash had not been fatal
Published: 12:40, 3 November 2023 | Updated: 12:43, 3 November 2023
Shocking footage has captured the moment a drug-driver crashed head-on with a Warburtons lorry, leaving four people seriously injured.
Driver Michael Wilkinson was left in a wheelchair for a year following the horror smash on the A488 in Hanwood, Shropshire, on August 16 2021.
He and three others were rushed to hospital after the 45-year-old cannabis and cocaine addict ploughed a Citroen C4 into one of the bread manufactures lorries, leaving police ‘surprised’ that he and his passengers survived.
One of the female passengers suffered multiple leg injuries, and the lorry driver, Andy Melbourne[2], is undergoing medical treatment which ‘may last the rest of [his] life’.
Dashcam footage from the HGV captured Wilkinson drive across two solid white lines in a bid to overtake another car moments before the crash.
Wilkinson, of Shrewsbury, Shropshire, admitted driving under the influence of drugs, driving while disqualified and causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and having no insurance.
Wilkinson, of Shrewsbury, Shropshire, admitted driving under the influence of drugs, driving while disqualified and causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and having no insurance
Images show the extent of the damage to both vehicles following the collision
He was jailed for four years and two months at Shrewsbury Crown Court earlier this week.
The court heard he has 37 previous convictions for sex, drugs, theft, public disorder and motoring offences.
Speaking after the hearing, lorry driver Mr Melbourne said: ‘As a result of the collision, I am still having trauma pain and receiving medical treatment that may last the rest of my life.
‘The male found guilty showed no response to drug driving, but I am pleased with the result at Shrewsbury Crown Court.’
PC Wootton, from West Mercia Police, said: ‘I would like to thank everyone involved for their help, especially the patience of the two victims involved for the time that it has taken to get this matter to court.
The footage shows the moment Wilkinson dangerously overtakes another car before crashing into the HGV lorry
‘This is a satisfactory sentence and means we have taken a dangerous driver off the roads of West Mercia.
‘I was one of the initial officers that attended the scene and was surprised that this collision was not a fatality.
‘Drug driving is one of the national targets in trying to reduce road deaths and I hope this sentence sends out a message before drivers consider getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle and driving whilst under the influence of drugs.’
References
- ^ Gemma Parry (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Melbourne (www.dailymail.co.uk)