Man jailed for crash that left woman disabled

A driver who travelled on the wrong side of the road before hitting a moped rider and leaving her with serious life-changing injuries has been jailed.

Police said Majinder Virk was driving over the speed limit as he overtook cars on Moseley Road, Bilston, on 7 January. He hit the woman near the junction of Prouds Lane with such force her helmet came off and she sustained serious injuries, officers added.

She remains in hospital with a permanent disability.

Virk, 48, of Norbury Road, Wolverhampton, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was sentenced to three years in prison.

He was also banned from driving at the hearing at Birmingham Crown Court on 22 December.

Virk had remained at the scene in the wake of the crash with police establishing that he was travelling at between 49-54mph just prior to hitting the rider.

Sgt Richard Evans, from West Midlands Police's serious collision investigation unit, said: "This was an extreme and wholly unacceptable example of dangerous driving.

"Virk chose to drive on the wrong side of the road at speed, overtaking multiple vehicles through pedestrian crossings and approaching junctions where the risk to others was obvious.

"The victim was pulling out of Prouds Lane and could not reasonably have anticipated a vehicle travelling towards them on the wrong side of the carriageway. The resulting collision caused catastrophic, life changing injuries.

"The victim remains in hospital and is now learning to live with permanent disability.

"This serves as a stark reminder that reckless driving decisions can destroy lives in an instant."

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