Driver tried to drag critically injured partner's body through a window before bolting after horror crash
A driver climbed over his partner as she lay in the passenger seat with life-threatening injuries to escape from the scene of a crash. Craig Hirtle then returned later to try drag her injured body through a window before fleeing again, a court heard.
Hirtle, who pleaded guilty to one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and one count of dangerous driving, was jailed for three years by Judge Patrick Field KC who called his actions a 'flagrant breach of the rules of the road'. His partner was taken to hospital with 'severe' injuries including four fractured ribs and a fractured pelvis, which saw her spend three weeks in intensive care and a month in total in hospital. The driver of the Mercedes, who was also hurt in the collision, suffered injuries to his knees, had an operation on his right shoulder, and said he 'hasn't had a good night's sleep in two years' due to pain and anxiety caused by the crash.
Sentencing, Judge Field said the victim would not have been expecting Hirtle's 'reckless disregard' for the rules of the road while 'lawfully' waiting to turn right at the junction, and criticised his 'irresponsible' behaviour when choosing to flee from the scene.
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