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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Fionnula Hainey

Dashcam captures learner driver, 17, 'save family's lives' in terrifying crash

A car dashcam captured the terrifying moment a learner driver had to swerve out of the road to avoid a car that had flipped over on a bend.

The 17-year-old has been praised by his father and the police for saving the lives of his family after the near-miss crash last April.

Patrick Williams, 33, came hurtling towards them in a blue Peugeot after rolling his car on a bend.

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He has now been sentenced for dangerous driving and failing to provide a breath sample at the scene, Gloucestershire Police said.

The teen learner managed to swerve the family's white Vauxhall Corsa out of the way, but officers said they were just inches away from being seriously injured.

Police said a number of witnesses who had stopped at the scene to help claimed Williams was abusive, sounded drunk and smelled strongly of alcohol.

A car dashcam captured the terrifying moment (Gloucestershire Police)

Andrew Musty had taken his son for a driving lesson in the Cotswolds, with his wife and his other son in the back of the car, on Good Friday.

They were driving along the A433 between Cirencester and Tetbury when Williams' car skidded around a corner and lifted up into the air.

“My 17-year-old son was a learner driver and his quick reactions saved our lives," Mr Musty said.

"If he hadn’t swerved onto the verge, Williams' blue Peugeot would have crashed through our front windscreen as it flew through the air, and my son and my wife in the back of the car would probably have been killed."

Williams' car following the crash (Gloucestershire Police)

One witness told police that they had previously seen Williams driving 'recklessly' on the outskirts of Tetbury, going around 80mph on a blind corner.

When officers from the Roads Policing Unit attended the scene of the crash Williams refused to provide a sample of breath for analysis and he was arrested.

Mr Musty said: "Immediately after the impact, I turned my head expecting to see my son motionless and covered in blood, but by some miracle, Williams' flying car somehow skimmed us leaving only blue paint marks, scratches, and bullet-shaped dents from the flying debris, and my son escaped unscathed.

"This was a traumatic experience for all of us, and the flashbacks and nightmares are a constant reminder of how lucky we are to have survived."

Remarkably, the Musty's car survived and the family avoided any serious injuries (Gloucestershire Police)

Investigating officer PC Tim Griffiths, of Gloucestershire Police, said: "The Musty family are incredibly lucky to be alive today. They were literally inches away from being killed or very seriously hurt.

"Williams drove that day with a total disregard for other road users, driving from Cirencester to Wotton-under-Edge and back again, in a manner which can only be described as dangerous.

"Surprisingly the only visible damage to the Musty's Corsa was the chunks that were taken out of the alloy wheel, blue paint transfer from the glancing blow, dents from flying debris, a spare wheel and a 6 inch bolt that had been in the boot. The car was also sprayed with fluids from the Peugeot as well as grass and mud."

He added that the teenager's parents should be "incredibly proud of their son for his actions that day".

"Had it not been for his quick reactions and peace of mind that day he and his family could easily have been killed. He showed a level of calmness above his 17 years," PC Griffiths said.

The inside of Williams' car after he rolled it on a bend (Gloucestershire Police)

Williams, of Robins Gardens in Dorset, appeared at Gloucester Crown Court on Monday (February 14) for sentencing.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, driving without insurance and failing to provide a sample of breath.

Williams received a nine-month sentence, suspended for 12 months, and was ordered to do 45 hours unpaid work and 10 days of rehabilitation.

Has also been ordered to pay £1000 in compensation and a victim surcharge of £156, and has been disqualified from driving for 18 months.

After this time, he will have to take an extended driving exam.

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