A 19-year-old boy racer has been sentenced to 12 months in a young offenders institution after leaving a 16-year-old girl with a fractured spine in a crash and then abandoning her. Elliot Harris, of Widnes, was driving at speeds of up to 88mph in a 30mph zone when he lost control and hit a fence, injuring two girls he had been 'showing off' to moments earlier.
The crash occurred on September 3, 2023, just four days after Harris had passed his driving test. Liverpool Crown Court heard that the girls had begged him to slow down as he hit speed bumps and drove over a roundabout. After the crash, Harris told the other passengers to leave the injured girl at the scene.
In a victim statement, the girl said: 'He left me injured, terrified and in unimaginable pain without helping me, even without checking. I honestly believed I might die.' She added that the crash had disrupted her dream of becoming a professional dancer, leaving her with constant pain and numbness.
Harris pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving. His defence lawyer said he was newly qualified and had a limited understanding of the danger due to his lack of experience. Judge Mark Bradshaw noted that Harris's motive was 'showing off' and sentenced him to 12 months in a young offenders institution, with a five-year driving ban and an extended re-test requirement.
