A speeding driver has been jailed for five years after knocking down a 16-year-old moped rider and leaving him with life-changing injuries.

Danny Dale, now aged 26, was travelling at more than twice the speed limit on the wrong side of Birmingham Road, Rowley Regis, in a Honda Civic. 

He rashly attempted to overtake the moped, as it was preparing to turn right into Mackmillan Road and crashed into it side-on.  

Moped rider Declan Osborne was thrown to the floor, losing his helmet as he fell.  As a result, the lad suffered life-changing head injuries in the collision, which happened on 30 January 2016.

The out-of-control car went on to smash into a garden wall, narrowly missing a group of pedestrians, and rebounded. DC Claire Byrne from the Collision Investigation Unit said:  

“Despite having caused serious injury to the moped rider through his dangerous driving, Dale then got out of the car and ran away from the scene without making any attempt to see if he was injured or contact the emergency services.”

Police officers made attempts to arrest Dale, and he handed himself in three days later.

CCTV analysis showed that prior to the collision the vehicle had travelled at 60mph, however moments before the collision witnesses described how Dale travelling between 60 and 80 mph.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court last week, Dale was sentenced after a trial for causing serious injury by dangerous driving and lying to obtain insurance, meaning tht his policy was voided. In addition, Dale was disqualified from driving for eight and a half years and must take an extended retest before he can drive again. DC Byrne said:

“Thankfully, witnesses came to the aid of Declan until he was treated by the ambulance service and taken to Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Declan remained in critical care for 16 days, he had suffered serious injuries including severe traumatic brain injury and fractures.

“He returned home and now is living with the lasting effects of his injuries.” 

In a statement, Declan’s family thanked those involved in bringing the case. They said:

“We are happy the right decision has been made. As a family we can now have some closure to what was a very tragic event. 

“Declan is still undergoing extensive brain injury treatment.’’