Richard Cook, 43, of Weymouth, has been jailed for 40 months after causing a horror crash in Netherton that left a mother with life-changing brain injuries, requiring round-the-clock care. The incident occurred at around 5.30pm on August 6, 2023, near the crossroads of St Andrews Street and Church Road.
Crash details and injuries
Cook ran a red light in his Mercedes, striking the woman's Skoda and flipping it into the air before it landed on another vehicle. The mother, in her 30s, suffered serious brain injuries and spent months in a coma. She remained in a brain rehabilitation unit throughout 2024 and has since been discharged from hospital, but still requires 24/7 care. The driver of the third vehicle was not seriously injured.
Investigation and court proceedings
Cook initially claimed the traffic lights were not working, but investigators found that while one light was malfunctioning, another was operational, making the red light visible. Additionally, Cook was traveling at 45mph in a 30mph zone. He later pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
Sentencing and victim impact
On Wednesday, June 17, at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Cook was sentenced to 40 months in prison and banned from driving for six years and eight months. During the hearing, a victim impact statement from the victim's mother was read aloud: 'I can’t put into words the emotions that we have all gone through, it’s just too painful... She gets very distressed and overwhelmed with trying to accept her disabilities. We have all learned to put on a brave front when we are around her, but behind closed doors, we are a shadow of the people we once were.'
