Shocking surveillance video has captured the moment a mother ran a red light and collided with a police car, causing it to catch fire.
Stacie Wright, aged 35, drove her white Mercedes-Benz A-Class into the police vehicle after disregarding a red light in Birkenhead, Merseyside. Flames were seen emerging from under the police car’s hood immediately after the crash.
During the trial at Liverpool Crown Court, it was revealed that Wright, a hairdresser, entered the intersection despite the traffic lights being red for up to eight seconds. Simultaneously, a police car with its blue lights activated was passing through a green light on Watson Street.
Footage shown in court displayed Wright beginning a right turn directly into the path of the police vehicle, resulting in the collision. Prosecutor Nathan Cooper commented, “I believe that the video clearly demonstrates what transpired.”
The police vehicle, valued at £15,000, was completely wrecked in the accident and deemed a write-off, with an additional £2,500 in salvage expenses. Constable Thompson, the driver, described the collision as “terrifying.”
In a victim impact statement presented to the court, the officer stated, “I sustained facial cuts, bruising, tinnitus, and rib pain that took two months to heal. The incident has disrupted my sleep due to discomfort from my injuries, affecting my relationships.”
“The sight of my vehicle engulfed in flames was terrifying. Despite my own injuries, my first instinct was to check on the other driver. If I had been slightly faster, a fatality could have occurred.”
“I am haunted by the near miss and the impact on my family, especially my 12-year-old daughter with special needs. Even months later, she still references the crash.”
The officer experienced “extreme pain” from the crash, necessitating time off work and missed training opportunities, leading to financial strain.
During sentencing, Charles Wood, Head of the Bench, characterized the CCTV footage as evidence of a severe offense under sentencing guidelines. Wright, a single mother from Rock Ferry, Merseyside, received an eight-month suspended jail term, a 12-month driving ban, and was ordered to pay £272.
