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Driver ploughed into crowd at car 'cruising' event, court told Driver ploughed into crowd at car 'cruising' event, court told
(about 3 hours later)
A 20-year-old driver injured several spectators after his modified car ploughed into the crowd during an unlicensed meet in a DIY store carpark, a court has heard. A 20-year-old driver injured several spectators after his modified car ploughed into a crowd during an unlicensed meet in a DIY store carpark, a court has heard.
Christopher Budd lost control of his red Ford Fiesta at a “cruising” event, where drivers were performing wheel-spins and “burn-outs”. Christopher Budd lost control of his red Ford Fiesta at a “cruising” event, where drivers were performing wheelspins and burnouts. He accelerated hard towards a Honda Civic Type R driven by his friend Ryan Swaddling, 22, but failed to stop in time and swerved into the crowd, a jury at Plymouth crown court was told.
He accelerated hard towards a Honda Civic Type R driven by his friend Ryan Swaddling, 22, but failed to stop in time and swerved into the crowd, a jury at Plymouth crown court was told.
Budd, from Liskeard, Cornwall, and Swaddling, from Ivybridge, Devon, both deny dangerous driving.Budd, from Liskeard, Cornwall, and Swaddling, from Ivybridge, Devon, both deny dangerous driving.
The incident took place at the B&Q carpark in Plymouth, Devon, and left several people requiring hospital attention. The incident took place in the carpark of a B&Q in Plymouth, Devon, in July last year. It left several people requiring hospital attention.
Deni Matthews, prosecuting, said the meeting in July last year was arranged via social media. “Something in the region of 100 vehicles attended, and several hundred people,” she said. Deni Matthews, prosecuting, said the meeting was arranged via social media. “Something in the region of 100 vehicles attended, and several hundred people,” she said.
“Towards the evening … drivers were performing manoeuvres in their cars. These included burn-outs [in which a vehicle’s wheels spin while it is stationary], revving the engine, accelerating and braking sharply, and wheel-spins while in motion.” “Towards the evening … drivers were performing manoeuvres in their cars. These included burnouts [in which a vehicle’s wheels spin while it is stationary], revving the engine, accelerating and braking sharply, and wheelspins while in motion.”
Matthews said spectators created a “narrow lane” within the car park. “By this time it was dark, and there came a point where the vehicle driven by Mr Swaddling, a black Honda Civic, accelerates as it approaches a speed bump, then slows down and stops.Matthews said spectators created a “narrow lane” within the car park. “By this time it was dark, and there came a point where the vehicle driven by Mr Swaddling, a black Honda Civic, accelerates as it approaches a speed bump, then slows down and stops.
“The Honda was followed by a red Ford Fiesta, driven by Mr Budd, which accelerated towards the speed bump. The Honda was stationary, and the Ford approaches and failed to stop behind the Honda. His brake lights lit up momentarily before he swerved to the right and crashed into the spectators.”“The Honda was followed by a red Ford Fiesta, driven by Mr Budd, which accelerated towards the speed bump. The Honda was stationary, and the Ford approaches and failed to stop behind the Honda. His brake lights lit up momentarily before he swerved to the right and crashed into the spectators.”
Matthews said that a number of people were injured and she said several witnesses filmed the incident on their mobile phones. Matthews said a number of people were injured and she said several witnesses filmed the incident on their mobile phones.
She said: “It was dangerous of the Honda Civic … to stop. It was dangerous for the Ford Fiesta to be driven in that manner, close to pedestrians, and turn to the right and collide with the spectators. When given the choice of colliding with the Honda Civic or the spectators he chose the spectators.” She said: “It was dangerous of the Honda Civic … to stop. It was dangerous for the Ford Fiesta to be driven in that manner, close to pedestrians, and turn to the right and collide with the spectators. When given the choice of colliding with the Honda Civic or the spectators, he chose the spectators.”
Matthews said that both drivers were interviewed by police. Budd said his foot slipped from the brake pedal while Swaddling gave no explanation. Matthews said both drivers were interviewed by police. Budd said his foot slipped from the brake pedal; Swaddling gave no explanation.
The jury watched recorded testimonies from young witnesses, who cannot be named for legal reasons. One described how the car had driven straight over her leg. The jury watched recorded testimonies from young witnesses, who cannot be named for legal reasons. One described how the Fiesta had driven over her leg.
She said: “A red car was coming towards us and it came from an angle. All I heard was screaming and banging noises, and then it hit me and I went over the right side of the bonnet and on the floor, then the car drove over my leg. I don’t know how I hit my head, but blood was pouring from my nose and it wouldn’t stop.”She said: “A red car was coming towards us and it came from an angle. All I heard was screaming and banging noises, and then it hit me and I went over the right side of the bonnet and on the floor, then the car drove over my leg. I don’t know how I hit my head, but blood was pouring from my nose and it wouldn’t stop.”
A second witness told the court: “When I got hit I can’t remember hitting the floor, I closed my eyes and everything stopped. We could hear screaming before it hit me and I could hear the car hitting people. I felt my head and I had a massive bump, and my friend had blood all over her face.A second witness told the court: “When I got hit I can’t remember hitting the floor, I closed my eyes and everything stopped. We could hear screaming before it hit me and I could hear the car hitting people. I felt my head and I had a massive bump, and my friend had blood all over her face.
“It was a red Ford Fiesta...you could hear bodies hitting the car, then I could hear girls screaming. I banged my head and had cuts on my arms and legs, and scraped my ankle, and my neck hurts a bit.” “It was a red Ford Fiesta … you could hear bodies hitting the car, then I could hear girls screaming. I banged my head and had cuts on my arms and legs, and scraped my ankle, and my neck hurts a bit.”
The third witness said: “I sort of blacked out for a bit. I remember the sound, but I don’t remember being hit. When I came to it was carnage, with people screaming.”The third witness said: “I sort of blacked out for a bit. I remember the sound, but I don’t remember being hit. When I came to it was carnage, with people screaming.”
The trial continues.The trial continues.