July 18, 2019 2.47 pm This story is over 56 months old

Driver had leg amputated after being crushed on Pelham Bridge

He now has to use a wheelchair

Pelham Bridge. Photo: Connor Creaghan for The Lincolnite

A man had his leg amputated after being crushed by another vehicle as he was checking damage to his car on Pelham Bridge in Lincoln.

Lincoln Crown Court was told on Thursday how Keith Haw shunted into the rear of Robert Morrans’ VW Golf car as Morrans waited at a give way sign at the bottom of Pelham Bridge, Lincoln, to enter the southbound carriageway of Canwick Road.

Phil Howes, prosecuting, said that following the initial shunt Morrans, 63, left his car and inspected the damage to the rear of his vehicle.

Mr Howes said: “While he was examining the vehicle the defendant’s car moved forward and trapped Mr Morrans who was crushed.”

Mr Morrans suffered serious injuries to his right leg and complications set in resulting in the limb having to be amputated.

Mr Howes said: “The defendant’s car was an automatic. He had stopped and intended to get out but he had left the car in gear. As he went to get out the car moved forward. The Crown do not say that this was deliberate driving.”

Mr Morrans, in a victim impact statement, said his life has been devastated by what happened.

“The life I was looking forward to has been taken away. I am having to learn again to do all the things I took for granted. I now have to start a whole new life in a wheelchair.”

Haw, 77, of Moor Lane, Branston Booths, originally faced a charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving to Robert Morrans as a result of the incident on April 17, 2018. His guilty plea to the lesser charge of careless driving was accepted by the prosecution after he agreed to hand in his driving licence.

He was fined £200 and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs. He was also banned from driving for six months.

Recorder Paul Mann, passing sentence, told Haw: “This is a desperately sad case. A few moments of lapsed attention on your part have had truly devastating consequences for Mr Morrans.

“There is nothing I can do by way of sentence that can bring any satisfaction to Mr Morrans. My powers are severely limited. The only penalty available to me is one of fining you.”

John McNally, in mitigation, said the collision was the result of a misjudgement by Haw.

“He deeply regrets it. There is real evidence of remorse. He has surrendered his driving licence. He won’t drive again. His driving days are over.”