Shocking moment speeding van driver distracted by phone slams into broken-down car leaving victim with lifelong injuries
Nathan Cole, admitted to checking social media while driving at high speeds down the A27 in West Sussex.
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The 29-year-old was speeding down the dual carriageway in a Volkswagen van when he failed to see a Peugeot that had stopped on the hard shoulder.
Travelling at 72 mph, 12 mph faster than his van's limit, Cole slammed into the back of the stopped Peugeot.
The horrific crash left the driver of the broken down car with life changing injuries.
Cole's victim spent time in a coma and had to have their leg surgically amputated following the harrowing collision.
Dash cam footage of the crash shows Cole staring down at his phone while speeding along the road.
The harrowing video shows the moment Cole slams into the stopped car with pieces of the smashed Peugeot being thrown into the air by the impact of the speeding van.
His victim can be seen waving his hands out of the open car door moments before the impact.
The 60-year-old man Cole struck and injured is then violently shunted out of sight of the camera by the force of the speeding van.
At 72 mph the speeding van sheers off the drivers side door of the Peugeot in the violent impact.
Cole immediately reacts as the air bag goes off in his face, he grabs hold of the steering wheel with both hands and screams.
Pulling his van over in the next lay-by Cole climbs out as smoke and dust begin to fill the cab of the vehicle.
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Pictures later show the destroyed Peugeot which was left with no door and a completely ruined back end.
An image of the scene shows debris strewn across both lanes of the dual carriageway with the destroyed Peugeot left on the grass verge at the edge of the road.
Cole later admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving at a hearing at Worthing Magistrates' Court on April 8.
Appearing at Lewes Crown Court for sentencing on June 13 he was handed down a two year and four month prison sentence.
Cole has also been banned from driving for four years and four months.
The court heard that the harrowing crash happened on December 13, 2023, on the A road.
Cole's victim, a 60-year-old man, was left with life changing injuries after being ploughed into by the speeding van.
The van struck the man directly and he was rushed to hospital where he received urgent medical care.
Cole's victim was left in a coma over Christmas and required extensive medical attention, including a leg amputation.
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The victim's family said his injuries and treatment are a "daily reminder of a tragedy that has reshaped every aspect of our lives."
Speaking after the case, Det Const Sean Corbin of Sussex Police said: "This was a shocking case which has changed the life of the victim and his family forever.
"Cole admitted that he was distracted while driving. He was extremely fortunate that he did not cause a fatal collision that day.
"His reckless driving posed a both to himself and to every other road user.
"It acts as a warning to all drivers not to be driving at excess speed and not to drive while distracted.
"Even a momentary loss of awareness can have devastating consequences."
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