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| Lollipop lady 'stepped into path of out-of control car to protect children' | Lollipop lady 'stepped into path of out-of control car to protect children' |
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| A lollipop lady used her body as a human shield out of instinct to try to save primary school children being mowed down by an out-of-control car, a court has heard. | A lollipop lady used her body as a human shield out of instinct to try to save primary school children being mowed down by an out-of-control car, a court has heard. |
| Karin Williams was helping young children cross the road when an Audi convertible crashed into them outside their school, Cardiff magistrates were told. Children were sent "cartwheeling" through the air and left in "pools of blood". In all five children and four adults, including Williams, were hurt. | |
| Driver Robert Bell, 62, may have been coughing at the wheel moments before veering across the road, the court was told. His car flipped over on a speed bump outside Rhws school in Rhoose, Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales. | |
| Williams, 50, stepped in front of the car with her lollipop sign to take the impact. She was left with broken legs, elbow, shoulder and ribs in the crash outside the school gates and spent 10 weeks in hospital. | Williams, 50, stepped in front of the car with her lollipop sign to take the impact. She was left with broken legs, elbow, shoulder and ribs in the crash outside the school gates and spent 10 weeks in hospital. |
| Four girls and a boy aged between five and 10 had injuries – including a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain and broken bones. | Four girls and a boy aged between five and 10 had injuries – including a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain and broken bones. |
| Married mother-of-one Williams – a lollipop lady for 10 years – claimed she heard a revving noise and saw Bell gripping the wheel with his eyes wide open seconds before the crash in June last year. | Married mother-of-one Williams – a lollipop lady for 10 years – claimed she heard a revving noise and saw Bell gripping the wheel with his eyes wide open seconds before the crash in June last year. |
| She said: "I was at the crossing when all of a sudden I looked to my left and I saw a dark car coming towards me at speed. It was on the wrong side of the road and collided with a bollard. It was very close to me. | She said: "I was at the crossing when all of a sudden I looked to my left and I saw a dark car coming towards me at speed. It was on the wrong side of the road and collided with a bollard. It was very close to me. |
| "I remember seeing the driver's eyes were wide open and gripping his hands tight on the steering wheel. It was all happening so fast. I was shouting something to warn the kids and moved in their direction out of instinct. | "I remember seeing the driver's eyes were wide open and gripping his hands tight on the steering wheel. It was all happening so fast. I was shouting something to warn the kids and moved in their direction out of instinct. |
| The next thing I remember is being underneath the car and feeling a sharp pain." | The next thing I remember is being underneath the car and feeling a sharp pain." |
| One girl aged 10 spent three days on a life support machine and has undergone a series of operations, but still does not have use of her left arm. | |
| Witnesses to the crash heard a "horrendous bang" as the car ploughed into the group of parents and children. One told police: "It was chaos. Parents and children were screaming. The black car had been travelling at normal speed but then suddenly there was a revving noise. At the same time it veered across the road, flipped over and slid on its roof. Karen was left on the front of the car as it carried on sliding." | Witnesses to the crash heard a "horrendous bang" as the car ploughed into the group of parents and children. One told police: "It was chaos. Parents and children were screaming. The black car had been travelling at normal speed but then suddenly there was a revving noise. At the same time it veered across the road, flipped over and slid on its roof. Karen was left on the front of the car as it carried on sliding." |
| Retired computer consultant Bell, of Fontygarry, Vale of Glamorgan, denies driving without due care and attention. He told police he cannot remember how the crash happened. Witnesses saw him crawl out of the upside-down car "dazed and covered in blood". | |
| Bell was heard to ask: "Did I do anything wrong? Was it my fault? Please tell me if I was speeding. Please tell me the truth." Bell, who has diabetes, had been driving past the school with a passenger in the front seat. The passenger later told him he had been coughing heavily just before the accident. | Bell was heard to ask: "Did I do anything wrong? Was it my fault? Please tell me if I was speeding. Please tell me the truth." Bell, who has diabetes, had been driving past the school with a passenger in the front seat. The passenger later told him he had been coughing heavily just before the accident. |
| Lisa Jones, prosecuting, said: "No one but Mr Bell caused the car to veer across the road. A competent driver wouldn't have driven the car that way. The real issue is whether he is responsible for the manner of the driving. He says he had no control because he was unconscious or unaware at the time." | Lisa Jones, prosecuting, said: "No one but Mr Bell caused the car to veer across the road. A competent driver wouldn't have driven the car that way. The real issue is whether he is responsible for the manner of the driving. He says he had no control because he was unconscious or unaware at the time." |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |