Car crash news
01/10/2010

Shopping centre smash driver in accident compensation case

A driver, who tried to commit suicide by staging a deliberate car crash into the front windows of a new shopping centre, is facing accident compensation claims from its owners and possibly from another motorist whose car he smashed into in a 100mph trail of destruction.

The 25-year-old Bristol man has been served a High Court writ by the owners of Cabot Circus who are seeking £213,000 for damage caused to the shops which had only been open for a few months.

In December 2008 the motorist sent text messages and left an apparent suicide note before driving his Ford Puma from the M32 towards the centre. He went through a red light, clipped a wall at a pedestrian crossing and flipped his car onto the roof of a stationary Audi A6, pushing it on its side.

The driver of the Audi suffered personal injury including fractured vertebrae, a broken rib and punctured lung. It is not know if he is also intending to make a car crash claim for recompense.

The life of the Ford driver who went on to smash into the 30ft plate glass window of a House of Fraser store was saved by a passing doctor who gave him emergency treatment for multiple injuries.

He was jailed for dangerous driving and causing criminal damage.

The civil writ claiming compensation which has been issued by the shopping centre's solicitor against the driver says the accident and subsequent damage were a result of his negligence, including driving dangerously.