A fitness instructor’s life was ‘utterly devastated in a split-second’ when a teenager crashed into her car while filming videos of himself while driving.
Catherine Davies went into cardiac arrest before being rushed to hospital following the collision on the A47 at East Tuddenham, in Norfolk, at around 11am on January 18 last year.
The mum, described by her family as ‘gregarious and full of life’, is now paralysed from the neck down and requires lifelong care.
George Taylor, 19, who had only held a licence for less than 12 weeks by the time he smashed into her, was using his phone throughout his drive to college that morning.
He recorded five videos showing him driving a Volkswagen Golf at speed and overtaking other vehicles while using his knees to steer.
Taylor pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was jailed for two years and two months at Norwich Crown Court yesterday.
He was also banned from driving for 40 months and told he must take an extended driving test before he can drive again.
In a statement, Catherine’s family said: ‘Catherine has always been such a gregarious person with a great sense of humour and so full of life.
‘She had a strong work ethic and would put her hand to anything and everything. She also dotes on her son.
‘I’ll never forget that day when we were told she had been in an accident and then arriving at the hospital to be facing the reality that we may lose her.
‘To hear that my only daughter may not survive was heartbreaking and, as her dad, all I wanted to do was make everything better for her.’
The statement continued: ‘The past 22 months have been traumatic and while I can’t change anything, I hope that by speaking out I can make others aware of what can happen on the roads.
‘Catherine’s life was changed in a split second, and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.
‘My focus now is to help Catherine and her son as much as I can to make their lives as comfortable as possible.’
Sergeant Callum Walchester said Taylor ‘didn’t set out… intending to cause unimaginable injuries to another person but sadly that is exactly what he did’.
‘Catherine was a fit and healthy mother who now, as a result of Taylor’s actions, will live out the rest of her life paralysed and requiring lifelong care and support,’ he said.
‘Catherine and her family have agreed for us to tell her story to highlight the dangers that using a mobile phone poses, in the hope that no one else is in their position.
‘This is testament to their strength and outlook and for that I thank them.
‘George Taylor made multiple decisions to use his mobile phone that day and in doing so put himself and everyone else at significant risk.
‘It was Catherine who has paid the price.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
