Six month ban for driver after couple seriously injured in country road smash

Burnley magistrates heard how Sohaib Razaq, who had four passengers on board, was going "too fast for the road conditions," when he hit a Fiat Punto travelling in the opposite direction on 60mph Lancashire Moor Road.

Razaq's two front wheels had left the ground on a right hand bend.

When the car landed, he had lost control, crossed onto the other side of the road and slid towards the Punto, being driven by at 40mph by Matthew Buchanan.

Mr Buchanan, whose partner Joanne Halliwell was a passenger, was forced to perform an emergency stop and brace himself for the impact.

Firefighters had to cut the roof of their vehicle to free the pair. Mr Buchanan suffered a broken right femur, was in hospital for two weeks and now has a metal rod in his leg.

Ms Halliwell was treated for internal bleeding to her colon and her other injuries included a fractured sternum. The defendant's passengers had more minor injuries.

The court was told after the accident, Razaq, then a security officer, apologised to the couple and told them he had lost control.

Mr Andrew Robinson, prosecuting, said an accident examiner, who looked at marks at the scene, concluded Razaq had been going at between 53mph and 60mph at the time.

He said: "It was a fine, dry day."

The defendant had no previous convictions.

Razaq's solicitor told the court he wasn't speeding saying:" This was a tragic accident and he would like, through me, to send his apologies to the driver and the passenger of the other motor vehicle.

"Quite nasty injuries, we accept that."

He added the defendant suffered bumps and bruises to his head and whiplash injuries in the crash.

Father-of-one Razaq, of Gorsebrook Road, Wolverhampton, admitted driving his Vauxhall Corsa without due care and attention on Saturday, August 26th.

He was banned for six months and was fined £120, with £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.