A MOTORIST seriously injured in a crash on the A34 Stratford Road in Shirley has said his “life will never be the same again.”
John Tunbridge suffered a number of life-changing injuries, including brain and internal injuries as well as a crushed pelvis, when his vehicle was hit by another car.
The 67-year-old, who is single and retired, spent six weeks in an induced coma and also underwent major surgery to repair his bowel.
He said: “Fortunately I have no recollection of the collision. I have had to piece together what happened from evidence I have seen and heard.
“The collision happened in a split second but the effects of what happened are still with me. Life will never be the same again.
“I’m no longer the person I used to be. I enjoyed a happy retirement in the Midlands and used be active and enjoyed going out and meeting my friends but these injuries have left me very isolated.
“I have to rely heavily on a wheelchair as I sustained very serious injuries to my pelvis and legs. I will need to see if I can learn to drive again. My internal injuries were so severe that I now have a stoma. I am hoping that this can be reversed.
“Despite my injuries I want to try and remain as positive as possible and try and make the most of life.
“I just hope that by speaking out people realise the physical and emotional hurt and pain they can cause others by dangerous driving.
“The sentencing is a major milestone for me. I now feel that I can try and look ahead rather than dwell on the past and focus on my recovery.”
John, formerly of Dickens Heath, instructed lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate and help him access the specialist rehabilitation and therapies he requires.
They also secured him an interim payment from the insurers of the driver who crashed into his car to enable him to pay for the specialist support and rehabilitation that he needs.
The incident happened at about 11.30pm on July 18, 2019, on the roundabout by the Porcelanosa tile store.
John’s red Audi A3 had just pulled on to the roundabout from Marshall Lake Road when a black Ford Fiesta driven by James Walters approached the roundabout at speed.
Moments later the vehicles collided.
In the lead up to the crash Walters had been driving in convoy with a grey BMW being driven by Daniel Tandy and a black Audi A1 being driven by then 17-year-old Jack Coyne.
Walters and the two others had been travelling at speed for around 1.4 miles before the collision. Their driving and speeding was captured on various cameras as they travelled out of Birmingham city centre on the A34.
Officers determined Walters speed to be approximately 62mph moments before the crash. The speed limit on that road is 30mph.
Walters, 18, of Yardley Wood, Birmingham, and Tandy, 23, of Highters Heath, Birmingham, were jailed for 18 months and 20 months respectively.
Coyne, 18, of Kings Norton, was jailed for three years for his role in the crash as well as other offences.
A fourth person, Morgan Cotterill, 19, from Jervoise Drive, Northfield, also received a suspended sentence after previously pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice.
