Footage captures the heart-stopping moment a banned driver reversed over two elderly sisters as they walked arm-in-arm across a pub car park.
Nicholas Adams was behind the wheel as the victims, aged 76 and 82, hopped out of a car and strolled towards the entrance of the Dovecote pub in West Bromwich, West Midlands.
CCTV footage shows the Vauxhall Insignia suddenly shoot backwards and mow the women over as the wheels mounted a flower bed.
The elderly sisters were left trapped under the vehicle with life threatening injuries following the crash on October 15 last year.
Just three days earlier, Adams was convicted of drink driving and was slapped with a 12-month ban.
Officers arrested Adams and he was charged with two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
On Thursday June 20, Adams, 57, was jailed for three years and 11 months at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
He was also banned from driving for two years.
The court heard on the day of the crash Adams was a passenger in the car with two friends who parked outside the pub at 12.30pm.
After a minor collision in the car park, Adams decided to get into the driver’s seat of the Vauxhall and move the vehicle.
Footage shows he didn’t close the door and his leg was dangling outside the car when it jolted backwards.
The court heard the two sisters, who have not been named, suffered horrific injuries.
One of the women spent six weeks in hospital with multiple serious fractures to her body, whilst the other spent ten weeks in hospital.
In chaotic scenes, PC Glenn Brabham was forced to ask one ghoulish eyewitness to stop filming the scene on his mobile phone.
He tells the man: ‘Can I just ask you, they might be dying underneath there so can you not film or anything like that. Thanks a lot.’
Further dramatic bodycam footage from PC Brabham shows emergency teams desperately trying to free the women from under the car.
He is heard asking one women what her names is, before calmly explaining: ‘We’re going to pull you out.
‘Everyone is here, lovely, to try and help you. I can see your hand moving, that’s brilliant – well done.’
PC Brabham was filmed co-ordinating the delicate rescue and helped lift the car off the women as they lay crushed.
In a statement, one of the women said: ‘My sister and I cannot thank enough the professionals who helped us both on that day and during our long road to recovery.
‘We would like to thank all the emergency services who came to our rescue on that day.
‘Especially PC Glenn Brabham, who play played an important part in getting us from under the car.
‘Also, many thanks to the doctors and staff at the QE hospital, Birmingham. Without your help it could have been a different story.’
PC Brabham was named the overall winner of the West Midlands Police Federation Bravery Awards and is in line for a National Police Bravery Award next month.
He said: ‘I’d like to extend my best wishes to both ladies for their continued recovery and it makes me happy to hear how well they’ve done so far.
‘It’s a privilege to do my job and I’m proud of what my colleagues and the other emergency services do every day.’
PC John Williams from West Midlands Police Traffic Investigations Unit, said:
‘Firearm officers happened to be nearby to the pub and PC Brabham didn’t even think twice about getting underneath the car to help the two women.
‘He selflessly prioritised the safety of the women over his own and his actions saved their lives.
‘Adams is rightfully behind bars after not only showing total disregard for his driving disqualification but also for seriously injuring two innocent women who were going about their daily lives.’
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
