SMASH SHOCK
Moment driver ploughs into cyclist sending him somersaulting into air – before speeding off as he lay ‘paralysed’
Watch the terrifying video above
THIS is the moment a drug driver ploughed into a cyclist sending him somersaulting into the air - before speeding off as he lay "paralysed".
Danial Arshad, 24, was under the influence of cannabis while at the wheel of his car when he struck cyclist Nicholas Cooper head on.
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CCTV footage shows Arshad becoming impatient with an unmoving vehicle at a set of traffic lights and swerving round them to speed through the junction.
However, Arshad failed to see Mr Cooper approaching from the other direction and smashes directly into the oncoming cyclist in Blackburn, Lancashire, in August 2023.
Mr Cooper comes crashing to the ground behind Arshad’s vehicle and begins to twitch and struggle to move in the road as Arshad disappears from view.
He was left with serious injuries following the collision, including rib and spine fractures and a collapsed lung.
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The cyclist was later said to have been “fortunate not to have died” and faced a severe risk of paralysis throughout his time in hospital.
He said in a statement read out in court that he felt he “partially died in the incident” and is “mourning the loss of who I was before”.
Despite the brutal injuries Mr Cooper suffered, Arshad avoided any jail time following his appearance at Preston Crown Court on Monday (October 7).
The drug driver plead guilty to causing a serious injury by careless driving and was subsequently sentenced to serve a 10-month suspended sentence.
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In mitigation, Arshad’s lawyer said he showed remorse for the incident describing it as “the worst mistake of my life”.
During sentencing, Judge Richard Gioserano said: “Mr Cooper was very fortunate not to have died, and this was of course a very severe impact and all because you were impatient to get around a car that had stalled at the lights.
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“Your view was restricted by the car that had stalled, and you were under the influence to some extent of cannabis.
“You are of previous good character, and you are genuinely remorseful, and you continue to demonstrate that."
Arshad is to serve the 10-month sentence suspended for two years, with requirements including 15 days of rehabilitation activity requirements and 300 hours of unpaid work.
He will also be banned from driving for three years and will be required to complete his test again to gain his licence back.
Most common illegal driving habits
Here's a list of reckless driving behaviour and the fines and penalties you risk getting from it
- Using phone while driving
Cheeky glance at a phone screen will result in six penalty points on your licence and a £200 fine
New drivers might lose their licence if caught doing so within two years of obtaining it - Speeding
Lovers of Fast & Furious will end up with minimum three points and £100 fine - Running a red light
This offence will incur three points and £100 fine - Middle lane hogging
It constitutes careless driving and police will hand you a £100 fine with three penalty points - Undertaking
This could possibly result in three points on your licence and a £100 fine
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