redred
02-18-2016, 08:15 AM
http://i.imgur.com/cCLc7bX.jpg
A DISABLED driver bodged his own hand controls for a car, using a litter picker to operate the accelerator and a metal pole attached to the brake pedal by a piece of wire.
Learner driver Roy Story then took to the wheel on a drive from London to Bristol - but lost control on one of the city's busiest roundabouts. He smashed into two cars, both of which were carrying children, a court was told.
The 50-year-old crack cocaine addict, who lost the use of his legs after an accident, was jailed for 14 months yesterday after a judge ruled that his ability to control the automatic Saab 9-5 car was "grossly impaired".
http://i.imgur.com/4eoZzbb.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/iTU7YvY.jpg
The brake was operated using a metal pole, fixed to the pedal using wire
Story, who has a string of previous driving offences, told police he had a spasm in his leg which caused him to accelerate through a red traffic light and career into two cars at the roundabout at Bath Bridge, near Bristol Temple Meads station. He was carrying a passenger, described by witnesses as a topless man, who ran away from the wreckage.
Officers who helped Story from the car into his wheelchair initially let him go, after telling him he would be reported over the accident.
But when they noticed his DIY modifications they caught up with him as he headed towards the station, and a criminal investigation ensued.
Story, of Barley House in Exeter, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, without insurance, during the incident in January last year.
Neil Treharne, prosecuting, said Story's car first collided at speed with a gold Honda Accord driven by Asela Jayasundara Kankanamalage, who was driving towards Bristol city centre with his daughters aged eight and ten, and niece aged 13.
The Saab then span around and hit a black VW Golf being driven by Laila McKenzie, which was also entering the junction of the A4 and A370.
http://i.imgur.com/u9cvs4j.jpg
The pole attached to the brake pedal (left) and litter picker on the accelerator (right), as found after the crash
Mr Treharne told the court: "Mr Kankanamalage watched as a topless male got out of the passenger side of the Saab and ran off. He saw that the driver remained in the driver's seat, looking panicked, until the arrival of the paramedics and the police."
Ms McKenzie was driving her partner with their two children on the back seat.
While she struggled for control she saw Story's Saab crash into the roundabout, the air bags deploy and smoke billow from it before a topless man got out and ran off.
The occupants of the cars Story hit suffered stiffness and pain from the ordeal. The Honda was written off, Mr Treharne said.
Story told police he had fixed up the controls himself, without having a professional check them because there was "no legal requirement to".
When asked if he thought they were safe, he said he thought they were.
He told officers: "A fixed push-pole on the brake. A not-fixed pole on the accelerator, which I push. I don't want it fixed, in case it gets stuck."
Story said he had paid £1,700 in car insurance – but was still not properly insured – and although he didn't have a full driving licence, he was being supported by a driver with a full licence. But this could not be checked as the man had run away.
The court heard Story had 42 convictions for 204 previous offences, including taking a car without consent, driving while disqualified and without insurance.
A probation officer told the judge Story had claimed his passenger had driven the car on the M4, before he took the wheel in Bristol, hoping to find a hotel, because the other man was falling asleep.
Story said a urinary infection caused him to have spasms, one of which caused him to put pressure on the accelerator and go through the red light.
Story was apologetic that children were involved in the smash, but the probation officer was concerned for the "total lack of regard" he had showed for his own safety, as well as others'.
Read more: http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Paraplegic-learner-driver-homemade-disability-car/story-28756567-detail/story.html#ixzz40VOZdtJC
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A DISABLED driver bodged his own hand controls for a car, using a litter picker to operate the accelerator and a metal pole attached to the brake pedal by a piece of wire.
Learner driver Roy Story then took to the wheel on a drive from London to Bristol - but lost control on one of the city's busiest roundabouts. He smashed into two cars, both of which were carrying children, a court was told.
The 50-year-old crack cocaine addict, who lost the use of his legs after an accident, was jailed for 14 months yesterday after a judge ruled that his ability to control the automatic Saab 9-5 car was "grossly impaired".
http://i.imgur.com/4eoZzbb.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/iTU7YvY.jpg
The brake was operated using a metal pole, fixed to the pedal using wire
Story, who has a string of previous driving offences, told police he had a spasm in his leg which caused him to accelerate through a red traffic light and career into two cars at the roundabout at Bath Bridge, near Bristol Temple Meads station. He was carrying a passenger, described by witnesses as a topless man, who ran away from the wreckage.
Officers who helped Story from the car into his wheelchair initially let him go, after telling him he would be reported over the accident.
But when they noticed his DIY modifications they caught up with him as he headed towards the station, and a criminal investigation ensued.
Story, of Barley House in Exeter, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, without insurance, during the incident in January last year.
Neil Treharne, prosecuting, said Story's car first collided at speed with a gold Honda Accord driven by Asela Jayasundara Kankanamalage, who was driving towards Bristol city centre with his daughters aged eight and ten, and niece aged 13.
The Saab then span around and hit a black VW Golf being driven by Laila McKenzie, which was also entering the junction of the A4 and A370.
http://i.imgur.com/u9cvs4j.jpg
The pole attached to the brake pedal (left) and litter picker on the accelerator (right), as found after the crash
Mr Treharne told the court: "Mr Kankanamalage watched as a topless male got out of the passenger side of the Saab and ran off. He saw that the driver remained in the driver's seat, looking panicked, until the arrival of the paramedics and the police."
Ms McKenzie was driving her partner with their two children on the back seat.
While she struggled for control she saw Story's Saab crash into the roundabout, the air bags deploy and smoke billow from it before a topless man got out and ran off.
The occupants of the cars Story hit suffered stiffness and pain from the ordeal. The Honda was written off, Mr Treharne said.
Story told police he had fixed up the controls himself, without having a professional check them because there was "no legal requirement to".
When asked if he thought they were safe, he said he thought they were.
He told officers: "A fixed push-pole on the brake. A not-fixed pole on the accelerator, which I push. I don't want it fixed, in case it gets stuck."
Story said he had paid £1,700 in car insurance – but was still not properly insured – and although he didn't have a full driving licence, he was being supported by a driver with a full licence. But this could not be checked as the man had run away.
The court heard Story had 42 convictions for 204 previous offences, including taking a car without consent, driving while disqualified and without insurance.
A probation officer told the judge Story had claimed his passenger had driven the car on the M4, before he took the wheel in Bristol, hoping to find a hotel, because the other man was falling asleep.
Story said a urinary infection caused him to have spasms, one of which caused him to put pressure on the accelerator and go through the red light.
Story was apologetic that children were involved in the smash, but the probation officer was concerned for the "total lack of regard" he had showed for his own safety, as well as others'.
Read more: http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Paraplegic-learner-driver-homemade-disability-car/story-28756567-detail/story.html#ixzz40VOZdtJC
Follow us: @BristolPost on Twitter | bristolpost on Facebook