A boy crossing a road to get to school was catapulted into the air after two speeding drivers ran a red light.
Dylan Lunt, who was 15 at the time but has since turned 18, "is no longer the same boy" after being struck by a black Vauxhall Astra, driven by then 20-year-old Robert Titterington on January 29, 2020. The GCSE student, like many of his schoolmates, had been crossing busy dual carriageway St Helens Linkway at the junction with Elton Head Road on his way to Sutton Academy.
The junction is controlled by traffic lights, and as the lights began to change allowing pedestrians to cross, he stepped out and began walking across the three lanes of the dual carriageway. However vehicles in the second and third lanes had gambled on getting through the junction even after the lights turned red.
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Dylan crossed the clear first lane and just made it across the second lane moments before a speeding silver Peugeot 206, driven by 41-year-old carer Pamela McAdams, whizzed past. However, tragically for Dylan, Titterington had also made the reckless crossing at an even greater speed, flying across the red stop line at between 64 and 66mph.
He managed to brake after spotting the teenager, but was estimated to have still been travelling at around 34mph when he struck Dylan in the third lane. The court heard if McAdams had not also run the red light, Dylan may have been able to step back and avoid Titterington's vehicle.
Titterington, of Foxglove Avenue in Halewood, and McAdams, of Burnsall Drive, Widnes, were each charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving. They both pleaded guilty at their first hearings in Liverpool Magistrates' Court.
Judge David Hale, passing sentence at Liverpool Crown Court, said today: "Dylan Lunt was a 15-year-old at that point going to school with his mates on a January morning, crossing, as he had to, a busy road.
"At a junction controlled by traffic lights, you were travelling in excess of the speed limit. The speed limit was 40mph, but you exceeded that limit when you entered that junction. You, Mr Titterington, were doing between 64-66mph. You Miss McAdams were doing between 52-53mph....
"This caused life-changing injuries to that lad. He will never enjoy the life that he should, and what's more his family are committed and have committed themselves to looking after him and responding to his needs to a great extent, a vast extent. There's hope that he may improve over time, but it's life-changing, and he will always require substantial care."
Titterington, now 23, sobbed in court as harrowing CCTV footage of the collision showed Dylan somersaulting through the air and then lying motionless in the middle of the junction with his schoolbag and belongings strewn around.
Simon Christie, prosecuting, said passers-by who rushed to help described him as lying with his mouth open and eyes rolled back in his head, "looking more like a pile of clothes than a person".
Fortunately, some of those passers-by happened to be medics from nearby Whiston Hospital, and began CPR while an ambulance was dispatched. Dylan had gone into cardiac arrest but was resuscitated by paramedics before being air-lifted to hospital.
Mr Christie said Dylan suffered a severe head injury which required major surgery, a broken right arm and fractured ribs. He has been left with "significant" cognitive deficits including memory loss and visual impairment, and suffers weakness down his right side.
Dylan was sent home to his family after 56 days in hospital, but requires constant care from his parents, as well as attending physiotherapy and speech therapy sessions.
Mr Christie read a moving victim personal statement written by Dylan's dad, Shaun Lamb. He said: "On the 29th January 2020, our world fell apart. We received the worst phone call no parent ever wants to receive.
"It left us completely numb and we didn't understand what was happening. We were told Dylan had been hit by a car, and had died at the scene before being resuscitated by paramedics and being taken to hospital in an air ambulance.
"We raced to the hospital, and we were told he needed a life saving operation to remove part of his skull to relieve pressure on his brain. We just felt shocked and panicked, we just felt lost."
Speaking about the lasting effects of his son's injuries, he described how Dylan struggles to remember things and find the right words, leaving him frustrated and angry.
Mr Lamb wrote: "He needs help getting in and out of the front and back door, we have had handrails installed. He needs help getting in and out of the car. This is devastating for a young man who should be starting his journey into adulthood."
The court heard Titterington stopped at the scene, but McAdams, described as "panicking" drove home before being traced via the DVLA a short time later. In interview, she claimed she had been "intimidated" by Titterington driving at speed behind her and thought the light was on green.
Mr Christie said initially, Titterington said he believed the light was on green, but when shown footage of the collision in interview he became emotional and said he had been driving dangerously. Mr Christie described how he had made "full and frank" admissions.
Damian Nolan, defending Titterington, said his client had been living with the burden of his actions for more than two years and felt "genuine remorse". He said his client had an unblemished driving record, and had character references from his employers and family.
He told the court: "There was no evidence of either car racing or of competitive driving with each other. The speed was compatible with the vast majority of that road, save for that portion of the road of that junction."
Andrew Nuttall, representing McAdams, said his client had suffered from depression and anxiety for many years before the incident, but had maintained a career as a carer both professionally and for her brother.
He said: "In her case, the impact of an immediate custodial sentence would be utterly devastating on so many people who need her and have her undivided attention and help."
Titterington was jailed for 14 months. McAdams was jailed for six months, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete 20 Rehabilitation Activity Days with the Probation Service.
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