A man had to have his leg amputated following a collision in a car which had been driven dangerously by his former friend in Leicester.
The man, who is in his 30s, was travelling as a passenger in a Peugeot 107 car, which was being driven by his former friend 31-year-old Macauley Arnott, at around 11.15pm on Saturday, March 5 last year.
Arnott was driving at excess speed leading to him losing control of the vehicle while on Aylestone Road, Leicester. From enquiries, the car was believed to have been travelling at around 77mph in a 30mph area. The car collided with a traffic island before hitting the garden wall of a house and a parked car.
Both the passenger and Arnott suffered serious injuries in the collision and were both taken to hospital.
The passenger was left in a critical life-threatening condition and has had to undergo more than 40 operations since. This has included having his right leg amputated above the knee. He also suffered multiple fractures. Although he has since been discharged from hospital he continues to receive medical treatment.
Arnott also remained in hospital receiving treatment for serious injuries following the incident before later being discharged. He was charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving in June last year.
Enquiries carried out by the force’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) in relation to the incident also found that around four miles prior to the collision, the Peugeot had been involved in a collision with a VW Golf at the junction of Little Glen Road, Leicester.
The Peugeot was reported to have left the scene, causing minor injuries to the driver of the Golf who had approached the Peugeot and put his hands on the driver’s side of the car. The Peugeot was then found to have driven through a red light at the junction of Lutterworth Road with Soar Valley Way and continued down Aylestone Road at speed where the collision happened.
Arnott, of Maughan Road, Earl Shilton, pleaded guilty to the charge at Leicester Magistrates Court on 14 July this year. Today, at Leicester Crown Court, he was sentenced to three years imprisonment.
He has also been disqualified from driving for four and a half years and ordered to take an extended re-test.
Detective Constable Charlotte Wright, from SCIU, said: “Arnott’s extremely dangerous driving has led to many lives being ruined. The victim has suffered devastating injuries which have completely changed his life.
“Arnott himself also suffered serious injuries and has also now been jailed for his actions.
“This collision is a tragic example of the horrific consequences that can result when a person drives a vehicle dangerously. You are putting your own life and the lives of others at extreme risk. Please do not put yourself in this position.”
