Kingswinford terror crash driver avoids jail (From Stourbridge News)

Kingswinford terror crash driver avoids jail

5:03pm Wednesday 6th March 2013 in News

A KINGSWINFORD man who caused a crash which left another driver terrified his car would explode has avoided jail.

Wolverhampton Crown Court was told Richard Wood drove so fast round a bend he was on two wheels before ploughing head-on into a car leaving the other motorist trapped inside.

The trapped driver was dragged through the boot of his wrecked vehicle by two police officers who had decided to follow Wood because of his excessive speed.

Recorder Stephen Lowne told 24-year-old Wood, who ran off after the collision: "How no-one was killed or seriously injured is nothing short of a miracle"

The man who had been trapped in his VW Golf, he added, had fortunately escaped serious injury.

The Recorder added: "I hate to think of the terror he endured being trapped in his car fearing it was going to burst into flames."

Wood, of The Portway, admitted dangerous driving, having no insurance or licence and failing to stop after an accident and he was given a 12 month jail term suspended for two years.

He was further disqualified from driving for five years and ordered to carry out 240 hours unpaid work in the community.

Sati Ruck, prosecuting, said police officers saw Wood driving his Fiat Punto at speed in Comber Drive, Pensnett and he went round a bend on two wheels.

The court was told Wood then hit a van before colliding head-on with the Golf, the trapped driver's wife and child then arrived on the scene and they were extremely worried about the situation.

Stefan Kolodynski, for Wood, said his client accepted his driving had been "dreadful" and added: "He is only too aware of the shock and fear he caused to the people involved."

He told the court: "The sheer level of panic would have been real but fortunately at the end of the day it was not as bad as it could have been. Thankfully the police were on the scene very quickly and they were able to take control."

Mr Kolodynski said it was a "moment of madness" by Wood who had been driving "way beyond his capabilities."