Crash driver fled scene of accident

Dad-of-three Oliver Shaw (23) had lost control of his Ford Fiesta after overtaking and smashed into metal fencing at the bottom of a grass banking.

Shaw, who was not insured, later told police he panicked after the accident on June 16th.

The vehicle has now been crushed.

Shaw, a ground worker, has now been ordered off the road for four months, after admitting driving without due care and attention, no insurance, failing to stop after a road accident and failing to report an accident, which happened on the A56 by-pass junction Todd Hall Road, Haslingden.

The defendant, of Wood Clough Platts, Brierfield, was fined £350, with a £35 victim surcharge and £85 costs, by Burnley magistrates.

Bench chairman Lynn Kemp told him: “This was potentially a very, very, serious incident.

“We have accepted that it was your inexperience, but obviously you were knowingly uninsured and you had passengers in the car.

“You left them to contend with whatever was going to happen.”

Prosecutor Mrs Alex Mann told the court police were called to the scene at about 6-30pm.

An officer had received a call saying a vehicle had left the carriageway near Winfield’s and collided with some trees.

Emergency services attended and the car was on fire.

Two passengers had suffered whiplash and the driver had gone.

Mrs Mann continued: “The passengers were saying they didn’t know the name of the driver. He left before the emergency services arrived, but he had said it was his car.

“Enquiries started and he was spoken to the following day. He said he had been the driver and had panicked and left.”

The car and fencing, which belonged to Hurstwood Developments, were extensively damaged.

Shaw, who was not represented by a solicitor, had written a letter, which was read to the court.

In it, he said he had let himself and his family down as well as the passengers in the car. He did check both the passengers were safe.

The defendant continued: “It’s been a life lesson, one which will stay with me for a long time and one I will never repeat.”

Shaw told the bench he was “extremely remorseful.” He said: “I am sorry for what I have done.”