A bus driver has walked free from court after a reckless 17-second TikTok challenge left his friend with a catastrophic brain injury.
The Viral Trend That Ended in Tragedy
Connor Pace, a 23-year-old bus driver from Hastings, met with fellow car enthusiasts at the Ravenside Retail Park in Bexhill, East Sussex, on the evening of January 17. The group decided to replicate a viral online trend which involved someone riding on the bonnet of a moving car.
Pace got behind the wheel of his Seat Leon. With the vehicle stationary, one of the group, a 23-year-old man from St Leonards, voluntarily climbed onto the bonnet. Pace then drove around the car park for approximately 17 seconds before the victim fell off, striking his head on the ground.
Life-Altering Injuries and Care
The victim was rushed to hospital with a serious head injury and did not regain consciousness for almost a month. Medical examinations revealed he had suffered a traumatic brain injury, requiring multiple surgeries and extensive medical procedures.
In a powerful victim statement, the young man said the incident has severely affected him, both physically and mentally. His mother had to return from Cornwall to Sussex to become his full-time carer, a change that Sussex Police said has "changed her life forever."
Court Sentence and Police Condemnation
Pace, of St Helens Park Road, Hastings, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving. At Lewes Crown Court on Wednesday, November 26, he was handed a 16-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.
He also received a two-year driving ban, was ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work, and was made subject to an eight-week electronic curfew.
Detective Constable David Symonds of Sussex Police stated: "It goes without saying that the actions of the defendant were mindless and irresponsible, and that is reflected by the severity of the injuries sustained by the victim."
"I am confident Pace did not intend to cause serious injury but nevertheless, he should never had placed himself in this situation in the first place. Cars are not toys; they are extremely powerful machines which can cause significant damage or injury."
The officer concluded that Pace’s irresponsible actions had "changed both his own life and his victim’s life irreparably."
