Witnessed accident, will the driver be done for anything?
Discussion
Stopped to help a family last week who ended up in a collision with another driver who tried to undertake them. Family were behind several cars (us in front of them) and vans passing a lorry. idiot was behind the family who were coming level with the rear of the lorry, he tried to undertake with inadequate space, collided with their front end and sent them both into a spin. Impact point was the innocent party's front inside wheel and his drivers door which gives you an idea of the stupidity. I honestly don't know what the hell he was thinking.
The family were able to leave (2 parents, 3 kids) as the damage was mostly cosmetic and they didn't require an ambulance. Idiot was stuck as his car was leaking a variety of fluids, wheels buckled, tyres deflated, and alignment looked like a drift car after the kerb won. Police asked us all to move on once the statements were taken and the family were able to continue home. I'd stayed behind a bit longer as I was in the work's minibus so had capacity in case the family needed transport.
Anyway, we supplied our details to both the police and the family, insurance / solicitors contacted us a couple of days ago to confirm what the dick had done so it's hopefully going to be settled as no fault for them. That's all good. However I was curious as to whether the police would do him for any form of dangerous driving? Three of us (different vehicles) acted as witnesses and gave statements to the police confirming the ridiculous attempted undertake. Other two witnesses were behind him and added he'd also driven like an idiot prior to the collision doing a similar manoeuvre between them.
Not seen or found myself in the situation before so just curious as to what / if anything would be done.
Cheers
The family were able to leave (2 parents, 3 kids) as the damage was mostly cosmetic and they didn't require an ambulance. Idiot was stuck as his car was leaking a variety of fluids, wheels buckled, tyres deflated, and alignment looked like a drift car after the kerb won. Police asked us all to move on once the statements were taken and the family were able to continue home. I'd stayed behind a bit longer as I was in the work's minibus so had capacity in case the family needed transport.
Anyway, we supplied our details to both the police and the family, insurance / solicitors contacted us a couple of days ago to confirm what the dick had done so it's hopefully going to be settled as no fault for them. That's all good. However I was curious as to whether the police would do him for any form of dangerous driving? Three of us (different vehicles) acted as witnesses and gave statements to the police confirming the ridiculous attempted undertake. Other two witnesses were behind him and added he'd also driven like an idiot prior to the collision doing a similar manoeuvre between them.
Not seen or found myself in the situation before so just curious as to what / if anything would be done.
Cheers
PorkInsider said:
It’s possible that the driver will be prosecuted for something, or given the chance to attend a course, or whatever.
Depends on what the police decide after looking at the facts in front of them and the statements, etc. They might decide no action to be taken.
Who knows...
And you might never find out if he pleads guilty to something like driving without due care and attention and gets a slap on the wrist and a fine from the magistrates. Depends on what the police decide after looking at the facts in front of them and the statements, etc. They might decide no action to be taken.
Who knows...
They might do the driver. Christmas Day a couple of years ago I witnessed an accident where a driver came flying out of a give way and collected a car on the main road. I'd commented to my partner on the speed off the car approaching the junction when we were about 100 yards away. I didn't actually see the impact due to a bend, just a Vectra spinning uncontrollably and taking out a couple of road signs.
I gave a statement and was asked if I was prepared to attend court as a witness, which I said I was. I received a letter about 6 months after stating the driver had been prosecuted for DWDCA in his absence and received 6 points and a fine.
I gave a statement and was asked if I was prepared to attend court as a witness, which I said I was. I received a letter about 6 months after stating the driver had been prosecuted for DWDCA in his absence and received 6 points and a fine.
Don't get too excited
Over the years I have:
a) comforted a baby (ours actually) whilst looking out of the window and seen a lorry drive down our road like the driver was drunk, crash into my neighbours car and utterly trash it and then phone 999 to give the police a description of the driver and the vehicle registration number
b) walk past my neighbour on the other side house who was having building work done when an unfamiliar chap had pulled up with an MPV and trailer when she was away for the weekend and proceeded to fill the back of his Galaxy and the trailer with building materials. I took a pic of him, again called 999 with full details and registration number
In both cases the call handler said it wasnt a priority and I heard no more
My Audi neighbour claimed on insurance and paid the consequence of increased premiums for years
My building neighbour paid for the stolen materials
I had thought each call was an easy kill for the Police
911 is a joke
Cheers
A few years ago I witnessed a crash involving two cars on the A90 Perth/Dundee road. Although the road was quite busy I was the only person who bothered to stop and make sure everyone was ok, and to give the police a statement regarding what I saw.
I had almost forgotten about the incident when, several months later, I received a summons to appear as a witness in court because one of the drivers was being prosecuted for dangerous driving. I have to admit that my recollection of events had diminished over time and the account I gave of the lead up to the crash may not have been entirely correct. According to the defence lawyer there were discrepancies between my court statement and the original statement given to the police at the scene; as a consequence the prosecution's case weakened considerably as I was considered an unreliable witness.
Moral of the story: write it down while it's still fresh in the mind!
I had almost forgotten about the incident when, several months later, I received a summons to appear as a witness in court because one of the drivers was being prosecuted for dangerous driving. I have to admit that my recollection of events had diminished over time and the account I gave of the lead up to the crash may not have been entirely correct. According to the defence lawyer there were discrepancies between my court statement and the original statement given to the police at the scene; as a consequence the prosecution's case weakened considerably as I was considered an unreliable witness.
Moral of the story: write it down while it's still fresh in the mind!
Oceanrower said:
Hardly reasonable to ask the US cops to respond to a UK theft.
By the time they get here, the "perps" (I believe that is the phrase) will be long gone.
Even if they'd flown in from Detroit they could have had descriptions of each perp, registration numbers and in the case of the thief photos of him and his swag in the car By the time they get here, the "perps" (I believe that is the phrase) will be long gone.
But they didn't
numtumfutunch said:
Don't get too excited
Over the years I have:
a) comforted a baby (ours actually) whilst looking out of the window and seen a lorry drive down our road like the driver was drunk, crash into my neighbours car and utterly trash it and then phone 999 to give the police a description of the driver and the vehicle registration number
b) walk past my neighbour on the other side house who was having building work done when an unfamiliar chap had pulled up with an MPV and trailer when she was away for the weekend and proceeded to fill the back of his Galaxy and the trailer with building materials. I took a pic of him, again called 999 with full details and registration number
In both cases the call handler said it wasnt a priority and I heard no more
My Audi neighbour claimed on insurance and paid the consequence of increased premiums for years
My building neighbour paid for the stolen materials
I had thought each call was an easy kill for the Police
911 is a joke
Cheers
I suspect the call handler in fact said that neither of the incidents was an emergency. Over the years I have:
a) comforted a baby (ours actually) whilst looking out of the window and seen a lorry drive down our road like the driver was drunk, crash into my neighbours car and utterly trash it and then phone 999 to give the police a description of the driver and the vehicle registration number
b) walk past my neighbour on the other side house who was having building work done when an unfamiliar chap had pulled up with an MPV and trailer when she was away for the weekend and proceeded to fill the back of his Galaxy and the trailer with building materials. I took a pic of him, again called 999 with full details and registration number
In both cases the call handler said it wasnt a priority and I heard no more
My Audi neighbour claimed on insurance and paid the consequence of increased premiums for years
My building neighbour paid for the stolen materials
I had thought each call was an easy kill for the Police
911 is a joke
Cheers
k you and your username OP!!!!!!! 
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff