A man who was left for dead after a hit-and-run incident involving a former Bolton beauty queen has called for drivers to take resposibilty for their actions.
David Robinson, 53, said he is ‘lucky to be alive’ after Kristina Long, a trainee solicitor at Bolton firm Keoghs and former Miss Bolton, crashed into him at a pedestrian crossing in 2012.
Mr Robinson, a Museum Technician at Salford Museum, was thrown 80ft forward on a pedestrian crossing in Chapel Street, Salford.
The 26-year-old drove off after the collision, leaving Mr Robinson fighting for his life in the middle of the road.
Mr Robinson suffered brain injuries and severe fractures to his leg and neck, and subsequently spent a month in hospital.
Long fled the scene, but was arrested two hours later. Police believed she was around twice the legal driving limit at the time of the incident, and was also speeding at the time.
Referring back to the incident, Mr Robinson said: “I was just walking home across Chapel Street from my own work Christmas party. I don’t remember anything about the accident but I’m obviously lucky to be alive really.
“Drivers need to take responsibility for their actions and consider the impact that their decision to drink drive can have on other people.”
As well as suffering from a brain injury, Mr Robinson has already needed several operations and external frames to be fitted to help with his recovery and faces a long rehabilitation battle.
He added: “I used to love swimming, walking my dog and running before the crash but the past year has just been horrendous.
“My injuries meant I was in hospital for a long time and I’m still not able to return to my hobbies.
“I also had to move back in with my parents so that they could help me with basic everyday tasks. I’m now working with my lawyers to get specialist support to help me recover further.”
Long was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol, dangerous driving causing serious injury and failing to stop at Manchester Crown Court last month.
Before the crash the offender had been drinking at her work Christmas party at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton – before driving three of her colleagues into Manchester city centre.
After dropping two colleagues off in Manchester, the third colleague started to vomit and wanted to return home.
The hit-and-run occurred during the return journey.
The 53-year-old is now working with specialist serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell who are seeking to secure funds to help support his rehabilitation and recovery, and has called for greater awareness of speeding and drink-driving as he looks to get his life back-on-track.
Mr Robinson said: “I’m relieved justice has been done in the criminal case and hope that by speaking out about my injuries it highlights to others how serious drink driving can be.”
Matt Brown, a partner and expert serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing David, said: “This was a horrific accident that could have been avoided had the defendant driver thought about the possible consequences of her actions.
“Drink driving is extremely dangerous and this case highlights the impact it has on the innocent victims that are left seriously injured.
“We are now working with the driver’s insurers to secure the necessary funds to help David with his rehabilitation so that he can begin to get his life back on track.”
Mr Brown also blasted Ms Long for denying guilt for the majority of the trial.
“Also in this case the defendant failed to take responsibility for her actions and cruelly pleaded not guilty for a long period of time before changing her plea very late in the day.
“This dragged the criminal proceedings out far longer than necessary having a further impact on David and his family as they were unable to fully concentrate on his recovery.
Story via Cavendish Press.
