Latest news with #boyracer
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Reckless boy racer, 19, who broke the spine of girl, 16, in 88mph crash while 'showing off' just weeks after he passed his driving test is sentenced
A boy racer who broke a 16-year-old girl's spine in a 88mph crash while 'showing off' just moments before has been sentenced to a year in a young offenders institution. Reckless, Elliot Harris, 19, had only passed his driving test three weeks before the horror crash took place in Widnes on September 3, 2023. Liverpool Crown Court heard how the then 17-year-old had picked up the two girls from a dance class, before 'showing off' and driving at speeds of over 80mph. The girls pleaded he slow down as he sped over a roundabout before he lost control and crashed in a 30mph zone near a junction on Alder and Water Lane in Cronton. Following the crash, he urged passengers - a girl and two boys - to abandon a young female passenger whose spine had been fractured by the collision. 'He left me injured, terrified and in unimaginable pain without helping me, even without checking. I honestly believed I might die,' the injured girl told the court. In a victim impact statement, she explained that she had never met Elliot, nor spoken to him, prior to the incident, but her friend went to the same college as him. Reliving the horrific incident which dashed her professional dancing dreams, she told how she was 'rushed to hospital in agony', as she was left scared 'not only by what happened, but by what was to come. 'The surgery terrified me and so did the thought that I might never walk again. I was in hospital for a long time and it was one of the most traumatic experiences of my life.' He has now been sentenced to a year in a young offenders institution after breaking who broke a 16-year-old girl's spine in the 88mph crash while 'showing off' Explaining how she has not been able to keep up with her dancing peers as a result of her injury, she said she has lived 'with constant pain, numbness and tension'. 'Dance wasn't just something I loved, it was who I was and what I wanted my future to be,' she said, according to The Liverpool Echo. 'I have lost the strength, stamina and the flexibility I once had. Simple things are now a struggle. I'm no longer able to perform to the standard I once could. 'It's heart-breaking I have worked so hard for something I now may never achieve.' She concluded that the crash didn't only break her spine, but parts of her life she is 'still trying to rebuild'. 'It's all still with me every day, and knowing the person responsible ran away and refused to take responsibility makes it even harder.' Martine Snowdon, defending, argued Harris had limited understanding of how dangerous his driving was due to his lack of experience. 'He has very much learned that lesson in a way that could only have been more effectively learned if there had been a fatality,' she said. Ms Snowdon argued that the 19-year-old had demonstrated a 'strong moral character' and a 'role model' to others in all other aspects of life. 'He's that sort of person, and feels the shame and remorse of his actions more so than perhaps someone who was not so caring and sensitive towards others would.' Harris, of Whitstable Park, Widnes, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He had no previous convictions. Judge Mark Bradshaw sentenced Harris to a year in a young offender's institution, while also disqualifying him from driving for five and a half years. After the ban, Harris will be required to undergo an extended re-test. Sentencing, Judge Bradshaw told how Harris speeding 'grossly in excess of what was safe'. 'You ultimately crashed into fences. One sees from the body footage police took the significant level of damage to the car your driving caused. 'More importantly was the impact on the passengers. You caused a complex fracture to (the girl's) vertebrae. He detailed how the young girl was 'terrified', having to stay in hospital for ten days, as well as undergo surgery where rods and screws were placed on her spine. 'It was frankly terrifying for her. She was in excruciating pain. She couldn't care for herself for many weeks. She had impaired mobility, flashbacks and anxiety. 'She missed the beginning of her college course at a prestigious dance college. She lost that chance to progress in her dance and her self esteem plummeted.' The judge also added how the teenager had been 'significantly' impacted by her injuries, even two years later, continuing to live with 'ongoing pain and mental scars'. It was also heard how the other girl involved in the crash was also impacted by the crash, experiencing aches, bruising, neck and back pain as well as whiplash. 'She suffered nightmares, flashbacks, and also guilt because she was able to return to dancing the way (her friend) could not.' He added: 'What happened that night could have been so, so much worse. Your irresponsible and dangerous actions have changed people's lives. 'It's frankly chilling to hear the impact from the victim statements of these two passengers. Describing their victim statements as 'chilling', the judge added how the incident occurred within only three weeks of Harris passing his test. 'And accounting for your time abroad after your test, it was only four days when you had the opportunity to drive in the community. 'The explanation you gave is that you were showing off, and frankly I agree that was probably, sadly your motive at the time.'
RNZ News
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- RNZ News
Boyracer charged over burnout during 'Levin invasion' sorry for involvement
About 30 police were deployed after a gathering of more than 200 cars ended in antisocial behaviour on the streets of Levin. Photo: NZ Police / Supplied A boyracer charged over his involvement in what's been called the "Levin invasion" has come forward and apologised. The street racer said he had written apology letters to people disrupted by the event and was selling the now impounded car he used to do a burnout. Police said a crowd of about 1000 gathered at the event last Friday. Four bystanders aged between 16 and 20 were hit by vehicles. One woman had both her legs run over. Fireworks and vehicles were used against officers trying to break up the gathering. Several of their cars had tyres slashed and police had to use sponge rounds to disperse the crowd. Nine cars were impounded on the night and 15 arrests made. Since then some of the impounded vehicles have appeared for sale on Facebook Marketplace . Police have warned buyers to beware when buying any car online and check it is suitable and safe. One of the drivers charged has admitted it was a dumb thing to do and told Checkpoint he regretted getting involved and did not want to be associated with the impounded car. "I'm very f***ing sorry... a lot of us aren't impressed with the behaviour. "I've already said very formal apologies to a lot of people around the area." The driver, who didn't want to be named, said he was heading home from the car meet at the end of the night when a large group of street racers began following behind him. "Everyone got out their cars, started recording me and were like 'Do a skid, do a skid.' So I f***ing did a skid. "There was a police helicopter in the sky and watching. And then he followed me after the skid to my mate's place and then police pulled up the driveway." The driver's car was impounded, and he then listed the impound papers for sale, a cheaper way to get rid of the vehicle. He said after the events of the weekend, he didn't want to be involved in those sort of meets again. "I can't guarantee it's not going to happen again. But on my end, I'm not going to be associating with it. "I just wanna try and move forward really cause I've got quite a few other things going on like at home and all that so I don't need, you know, silly **** like this ruining it." He said he doubted boyracers would listen to warnings from police and the government, and believed they had tried to find other ways to race. "Me and my mate tried opening up a little skid pad on his farm, but that got quickly postponed from the police. "So we just took it to the streets really. And that's how it is. I think that's how it's always going to be, to be honest." Proposed new legislation to bring in harsher penalties on boyracers was announced by the government in May. If put in place drivers could risk their cars being crushed, rather than impounded. Transport Minister Chris Bishop said the current penalties weren't enough to deter the behaviour. "Kiwis are sick of seeing these idiot drivers putting everyone around them at risk, so we're taking action through a range of much tougher penalties." The boyracer said he didn't think the risk of losing a car was going to be enough to stop most drivers. "All the ones with a job and everything, they've got money to go out the next day and buy another car so they're not too worried." Police have initiated an investigation phase into the events in Levin and it is likely there will be more charges and possible impounds of vehicles to come. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- RNZ News
Boyracer apologises for 'Levin invasion' car meet chaos
A boyracer charged over his involvement in the 'Levin invasion" said he's written apology letters to people disrupted by the event and is selling the now impounded car he used to do a burnout. Police say a crowd of about thousand gathered at the event last Friday. Four bystanders aged between 16 and twenty years old were hit by vehicles and one woman had both her legs run over. One of the drivers charged admits it was a dumb thing to do, and said he regrets getting involved and doesn't want to be associated with the impounded car. He spoke to Lisa Owen.
