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Two drivers 'racing each other' left cyclist with life changing injuries

The pair were jailed for a combined total of just over three years

A cyclist was left with 'life-changing injuries' after a collision involving two drivers who were 'racing each other'.

One of the men overtook the other before crashing into another motorist emerging from a side street causing him to lose control and hit the rider. 

Police were alerted to a report that a grey Seat Leon Cupra, a black Mercedes AMG CLA and a blue Mercedes C Class car were involved in a collision and that a 25-year-old man had been knocked from his bicycle.

Emergency services attended and the cyclist was taken to hospital with life changing injuries.

Mark Birch, driving the Mercedes, and Scott Worthington, driving the Seat, were said by witnesses to be racing each other along Lord Street, Southport and onto Lulworth Road.

Worthington overtook Birch at speed and collided with a vehicle emerging from a side road before losing control and striking the cyclist. 

Worthington remained at the scene while Birch failed to stop. Both were arrested and later charged, Lancashire Live report. 

Worthington, 28, of Park Road, Southport, and Birch, 29, of Stuart Road, Bootle, were jailed for a combined total of more than three years and both received driving disqualifications. 

Worthington pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

> Hit and run driver who killed cyclist spent a week trying to cover up crash

He received a two year prison sentence and a four year driving disqualification, with a requirement to take an extended test.

Birch pleaded guilty to dangerous driving. He received a 13 month prison sentence and a three year six month driving disqualification, with a requirement to take an extended test.

Roads Policing Inspector Stuart McIver said: “This was a horrifying incident which saw the victim suffer from life-changing injuries and could have had even more devastating consequences. 

“We hope that today’s sentence shows that we simply will not tolerate racing on the streets of Merseyside - it is utterly reckless and puts our communities at unnecessary risk on our roads.

“If you make the stupid decision to drive in this manner we will find you and put you before the courts.”

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7 comments

Avatar
Hirsute | 2 years ago
5 likes

I was behind 2 cyclists earlier must have been in low 20s speed. I waited until it was the really wide bit only to look in the mirror to see car b overtake car a as car a over took the side by side cyclists.
It was only a 40 and about 200m from a roundabout that takes you down to 30.
What could go wrong !

Avatar
visionset | 2 years ago
7 likes

“We hope that today’s sentence shows that we simply will not tolerate racing on the streets of Merseyside”

erm nope

Avatar
Velophaart_95 | 2 years ago
13 likes

Quite simple; they shouldn't drive again. Far too many people on the road who are not suitable to drive; passing a test doesn't prove they can - it's a mentality. 

Driving is a privilege, not a right - they should have lost their privilege by driving recklessly; except they haven't. 

Avatar
the little onion | 2 years ago
13 likes

So, illegally racing round the streets, causes life-changing injuries, but will be OK to drive again in three years....... tell me again about the "war on the motorist...?"

Avatar
Sriracha replied to the little onion | 2 years ago
6 likes
the little onion wrote:

So, illegally racing round the streets, causes life-changing injuries, but will be OK to drive again in three years....... tell me again about the "war on the motorist...?"

the three years is the combined total. So about 18 months apiece, out in 9.

Avatar
Dave Dave replied to the little onion | 2 years ago
4 likes

"will be OK to drive again in three years"

Fortunately, in practice, they won't have any real chance of driving again legally for another 6(?) years after that. Insurance costs will be absolutely prohibitive. 

Unfortunately, in practice, do scrotes like that even care if they're banned or can't get insurance? Or will they just keep driving anyway?

Avatar
SaintClarence27 replied to Dave Dave | 2 years ago
6 likes

Dave Dave wrote:

"will be OK to drive again in three years"

Fortunately, in practice, they won't have any real chance of driving again legally for another 6(?) years after that. Insurance costs will be absolutely prohibitive. 

Unfortunately, in practice, do scrotes like that even care if they're banned or can't get insurance? Or will they just keep driving anyway?

Given the car models involved, it's possible prohibitive costs are not an issue.  And the victim was training to become a doctor, too, which is now out of the question.  I hope he takes these horrible people to task in civil court as well.

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