Woman’s life ‘torn apart’ in 90mph horror crash which killed her best friend
A young woman has been left with a “life sentence” of trauma and injuries following a catastrophic 90mph crash that claimed the life of her best friend.
Imogen Rowland, 25, sustained severe injuries including spinal, foot, elbow, pelvis, and rib fractures when the VW Golf she was travelling in as a passenger crashed into a wall and struck a lamppost.
The tragedy also took the life of her best friend, Natasha Woroch, who died at the scene in Belton, North Lincolnshire.
Connor Malpass, 25, of Rectory Gardens, Wheatley, Doncaster, was behind the wheel, speeding them home from a night out when he accelerated to almost 90mph on the A161 at around 1am on July 8 last year.
Despite Imogen’s urgent calls for him to “slow down”, Malpass, who was under the influence of nitrous oxide, lost control of the vehicle.
In the aftermath, Imogen discovered that Malpass had not tried to assist Natasha but instead used his phone light to search her body for a watch he had given her as a gift.
Malpass admitted to causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
On August 9, at Grimsby Crown Court, he received a sentence of ten years and six months imprisonment[1], a 17-year driving ban, and his car was confiscated.
Imogen, from Epworth, feels no prison term could ever compensate for the enduring agony and loss caused by Malpass’s actions.
She said: “No sentence will ever compare to the life sentence we’ve received. What happened that night wasn’t an accident. It was the driver’s choice to drive so dangerously.
“When he started driving erratically, we were frightened. We asked him to slow down but he ignored us.
“I don’t remember the impact of the collision or afterwards due to being unconscious, but it was horrifying to hear in court the details of how the driver behaved after killing my best friend.
“He decided to search Tash’s body for a watch he’d given her as a present, even going as far as shining his phone torch on her. He made zero attempts to help her.”
Imogen paid an emotional tribute to Natasha, saying her death was a “complete waste of a beautiful life”.
Connor Malpass, who has been jailed for causing death by dangerous driving (Image: Humberside Police)
She added: “Losing my best friend has been so difficult. Tash will never get to grow old; she will never get to experience excelling in her career.
“She will never get to experience falling in love, getting married, and having a family of her own which I know she dreamed of. She would have made the best mum.
“She will never get to celebrate another birthday, eat her favourite food, sing her favourite songs, cuddle her family or dance and laugh with her best friends.
“What happened is a complete waste of a beautiful life. Life without Tash feels like there is no colour, everything feels grey.
“I think about her every single moment of every day, what our lives could have been together, our bond was irreplaceable, and she was truly one in a million.”
Imogen spent nearly a fortnight in hospital recuperating from a horrendous crash, with the aftermath still affecting her profoundly in both body and mind. Reliving her experience, she said: “The last year has been the hardest of my life.”
She further described her struggle, saying: “I’ve had to try and cope with the trauma of my injuries and how I’ve gone from an independent and outgoing person to someone a lot more reserved and reliant on others.”
The impact on her life has been extensive as she admitted: “My entire outlook on life has now changed and I’m riddled with immense mental and physical pain at every single moment.”
Her journey is marked by overwhelming fatigue over simple tasks and uncertainty about her recovery, saying: “I’m exhausted at the simplest tasks and I have no idea when or if I will feel better.”
Imogen disclosed the depth of her emotional suffering when she revealed: “The physical pain may subside and despite my long list of horrific injuries and ongoing problems I’m having, it’s incomparable to the mental wound of losing my best friend.”
She also conveyed the intense grief saying: “It’s so painful to contemplate the future in a world without Tash and where I don’t know if I’ll ever feel like I’m not living in a stranger’s body again.”
Imogen expressed her longing for her previous life and the distress caused by the possibility that it may never return, saying: “I so desperately want my old life back and the realisation that may not be a possibility is sometimes too much to bear.”
In the quest for recovery, Imogen engaged serious injury solicitors at Irwin Mitchell to aid her in obtaining the essential specialist support and rehabilitation. Claire Pilsworth, her legal representative, reflected on the seriousness of the case after the hearing, underlining the “devastating consequences” of dangerous driving.
She said: “The last year and trying to come to terms with the physical and mental impact of the collision has been incredibly difficult for Imogen. She not only suffered extremely serious injuries which still affect her but has also endured the trauma of losing her best friend.”
“This incident vividly highlights the devastating consequences of what can happen because of the dangerous actions of those who break the law. While nothing can ever make up for what Imogen has been through we’re determined to support her so she can access the ongoing rehabilitation she requires.
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“In the meantime, we hope the sentence acts as a deterrent and reminds motorists to think about the consequences of their actions, so the number of people killed or badly injured on our roads reduces.”
Following his sentencing, Rob Mazingham, from Humberside Police, labelled Malpass a “reckless and thoughtless individual”.
He said: “The uncontrolled speeds that Malpass was driving that day cost a young woman her life, and friends and family are now left with the unimaginable pain of navigating a future without her. He has also left two other people with serious and life-changing injuries.
“Malpass is a reckless and thoughtless individual who had no regard for the safety of the people in his car, or others on the road. While the result at court will not take away the pain and suffering caused, I am relieved to think such a dangerous driver has been taken off our roads.
“Following a complex investigation, it was established that the vehicle had been fitted with an illegal mileage blocker that, when activated, also prevented some of the vehicles emergency braking systems from functioning.
“Malpass’ ability to control the vehicle was further hampered due to the fact he was inhaling nitrous oxide from balloons whilst driving.
“Road safety remains a priority for us, and we will seek to take action against anyone driving senselessly, whether that’s by driving excessive speeds, using a phone whilst driving, driving under the influence of drink or drugs, not wearing a seatbelt, or doing anything that puts other safe road users at risk.”
References
- ^ On August 9, at Grimsby Crown Court, he received a sentence of ten years and six months imprisonment (www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk)
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