A woman has admitted causing a crash which left a motorcyclist in hospital for a year – and still unable to walk – by driving in the wrong direction on a roundabout.
Linda Boreham, 63, of Badwell Ash, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving last March 4, when her Skoda Octavia travelled the wrong way on the A1088 roundabout, colliding with Ian Brown’s oncoming Suzuki GSX.
Prosecutor Ian Devine described the road layout as clear, and the weather conditions “exceptional”, as Boreham left the eastbound A14 at Elmswell .
“She inexplicably turned right before the chevrons and continued in the lane for oncoming traffic,” he told magistrates in Ipswich.
“Sadly, Mr Brown was on that roundabout and there was a head-on collision, resulting in significant life-changing injuries.”
The 57-year-old motorcyclist, from Bacton, was released from hospital into rehabilitation last Monday – still unable to walk.
“It took a significant length of time and number of operations to reach this point,” said Mr Devine.
“It turned his life completely upside down.”
Mr Brown had been visiting a friend’s workshop in Elmswell.
He then went to visit another friend’s workplace in Woolpit but, realising he would not be there on a Saturday, changed course to visit a different friend in Stowmarket.
He recalled only hearing a male voice say “don’t remove his crash helmet”, before waking up in Addenbrooke’s Hospital two weeks later, having suffered three damaged arteries, fractured ribs, punctured lungs, a smashed pelvis and legs, and a head injury affecting short-term memory.
“He has been told he may never walk again,” said Mr Devine.
“To have any chance, he needs a hip replacement – and the other replaced some time afterwards.”
Matthew Kerruish-Jones, for Boreham, said there was no indication of excessive speed or intent by his client, who had a clean licence and criminal record before this week.
He said Boreham remained “at a loss” to explain the manoeuvre.
“She simply made a mistake that perhaps anyone could make if not paying attention,” he added.
Boreham was said to have also shown genuine remorse in writing to Mr Brown following the crash.
Magistrates defered sentencing to a crown court judge at a later date, imposing an interim driving ban and ordering pre-sentence probation service reports.
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