Teenager jailed for crash that left woman with brain injury

James Forrest-Hazell was 16 when he hit car

A teenager is starting 18 months in custody and has banned from driving for 10 years for causing a collision which left another driver with bleeding on the brain.

James Forrest-Hazell, now 18, was just 16 when the collision took place in Exmouth last year. He didn't have a driving licence or insurance and shouldn't have been behind the wheel.

He reached speeds of more than 50 miles an hour in Dinan Way, a residential area of the town.

He was also over the limit for a cannabis breakdown product.

Mr Forrest-Hazell, from Arena Park in Exeter, appeared at Exeter Crown Court for sentence this week having previously pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Just after 8am on 28 April last year, an unmarked police response car was responding to an unrelated incident in Exmouth with its emergency lighting activated.

The officer recognised the Ford Fiesta driven by Mr Forrest-Hazell because he had previously failed to stop, and noticed it increasing its speed. 

The officer followed the vehicle onto Dinian Way and saw it overtake other vehicles in a hash marked area while driving well in excess of the 30 miles-per-hour limit.

The car entered a sweeping right bend and mounted a grass verge as he lost control and hit a Fiat 500 waiting at the junction of St Briac Way, pushing that vehicle up into the air.

As a result of the collision, the driver of the Fiat suffered several fractures and a bleed on the brain. The collision continues to have an effect on her to this day. 

The driver’s son also sustained a two-inch cut to his ear which required stitches.

In interview Mr Forrest-Hazell told officers he panicked and accelerated when he saw blue lights come up behind him. 

Sergeant Troy Bennett said: “James Forrest-Hazell was 16 years of age at the time of the offence and he should never have been behind the wheel of a car in the first place.

“In an attempt to flee from police his driving was dangerous. Not only did he drive at highly inappropriate speeds, but he also overtook other cars in a residential area of Exmouth.

“His reckless actions not only diverted an officer from responding to an emergency call, but ultimately led to him seriously injuring an innocent member of the public.”

Footage of the incident can be seen on the link below. https://youtu.be/b15hE2t1inc