'Careless' driver didn't know he'd reversed into OAP causing fractured hip and shoulder

A 'careless' driver had to be flagged down by witnesses after reversing into an elderly woman leaving her with a fractured hip and shoulder.

Terry Pink, 56, manoeuvered his car out of a parking space on Redcar High Street when he struck the OAP who was standing with a mobility aid on the chevrons in the middle of the road. The elderly woman fell to the ground and the defendant drove away, not realising anything had happened.

Passersby who witnessed the incident flagged him down to inform him.

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Prosecuting the case at Teesside Magistrates' Court on Friday, Carolyn Craggs, said: "The victim was crossing the road and she was stood on the chevrons in the centre of the road. She uses a mobility aid to walk and as she was waiting the defendant reversed his vehicle out of a parking space on the High Street.

"He reversed out in part and then reversed out very quickly and hit her. She was sent to the ground. She suffered a fracture to her pelvis and to her shoulder. She was taken to a rehab for physical therapy and stayed there for five weeks."

Ms Craggs said after Pink had been flagged down, Cleveland Police then attended and he was arrested.

The court heard after the collision, the victim struggled with daily tasks including cooking, cleaning and showering. She said she didn't have the strength or mobility she used to.

Pink pleaded guilty to "causing serious injury by careless/inconsiderate driving" following the incident on April 5.

Mitigating, Emily Pearson said the defendant made a "mistake" and checked if the woman was ok. She said: "He hadn't even felt anything collide with the vehicle, it was only when people were flagging him down he stopped. He parked up and went back to the victim to make sure she was ok. He has no previous convictions whatsoever. It was a mistake."

Ms Pearson said the defendant has mental health issues and asked for the case to be adjourned for a pre-sentence report. Magistrates accepted a pre-sentence report would benefit the sentencing bench and adjourned the case.

Pink, of Kirkleatham Lane, was granted unconditional bail to attend the Middlesbrough court on December 10, at 10am. He was handed an interim driving disqualification.

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