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| Teacher's '120mph danger crash' | Teacher's '120mph danger crash' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A head teacher lost control of his car crashing into another car causing the front of it to "disintegrate", Merthyr Crown Court has heard. | A head teacher lost control of his car crashing into another car causing the front of it to "disintegrate", Merthyr Crown Court has heard. |
| One witness estimated Paul Davies, 51, from Hirwaun, was driving his Subaru Impreza at up to 120mph (200kmph) on the A465 Heads of the valleys road. | One witness estimated Paul Davies, 51, from Hirwaun, was driving his Subaru Impreza at up to 120mph (200kmph) on the A465 Heads of the valleys road. |
| He hit a Ford Fiesta head on, which left driver Kelvin Palmer in hospital for 10 months and in a wheelchair. | |
| Mr Davies, a head at a Cwmdare school, denies dangerous driving. | Mr Davies, a head at a Cwmdare school, denies dangerous driving. |
| The prosecution told the jury how Mr Davies had been driving at "excessive speed" along the road towards Merthyr Tydfil in wet and windy conditions last May. | The prosecution told the jury how Mr Davies had been driving at "excessive speed" along the road towards Merthyr Tydfil in wet and windy conditions last May. |
| "He was travelling too fast to be able to control the car," said Nicholas Jones, prosecuting. | "He was travelling too fast to be able to control the car," said Nicholas Jones, prosecuting. |
| It came past in such a way it frightened me - I would say an easy 100 to 120 miles an hour, definite Motorist Emma Able | It came past in such a way it frightened me - I would say an easy 100 to 120 miles an hour, definite Motorist Emma Able |
| "There was water on the road and he lost control. He failed to get around the bend. There were cars coming towards him including a silver Fiesta being driven by Kelvin Palmer. | "There was water on the road and he lost control. He failed to get around the bend. There were cars coming towards him including a silver Fiesta being driven by Kelvin Palmer. |
| "He was hit head on, The front of his car disintegrated. The engine block came out of his car and hit another." | "He was hit head on, The front of his car disintegrated. The engine block came out of his car and hit another." |
| He told the jury how Mr Palmer's car flipped over and ended up roof down on an embankment. | He told the jury how Mr Palmer's car flipped over and ended up roof down on an embankment. |
| Two other cars were hit during the collision. All four drivers suffered some injuries. | Two other cars were hit during the collision. All four drivers suffered some injuries. |
| The jury was shown police photographs of the scene following the crash. | The jury was shown police photographs of the scene following the crash. |
| "It shows the amount of damage and carnage it caused - all caused by the excessive speed of the defendant," said Mr Jones. | "It shows the amount of damage and carnage it caused - all caused by the excessive speed of the defendant," said Mr Jones. |
| In evidence, Mr Palmer told the jury how as he drove in the direction of Hirwaun passing the Baverstock Hotel at a speed of around 30 to 35 miles an hour "because of the terrible weather conditions" he noticed a car coming up the hill at speed. | In evidence, Mr Palmer told the jury how as he drove in the direction of Hirwaun passing the Baverstock Hotel at a speed of around 30 to 35 miles an hour "because of the terrible weather conditions" he noticed a car coming up the hill at speed. |
| "He is in the furthest lane away from me and he is coming up and his car sort of wobbles," he said. | "He is in the furthest lane away from me and he is coming up and his car sort of wobbles," he said. |
| "He then comes across the lanes and the car was in my lane and was sliding back and fore as it was approaching me. All I could do was brake and within seconds he hit me." | "He then comes across the lanes and the car was in my lane and was sliding back and fore as it was approaching me. All I could do was brake and within seconds he hit me." |
| 'Out of nowhere' | 'Out of nowhere' |
| Mr Palmer broke down crying as he described to the jury how he found himself trapped upside down in the car "in tremendous pain". | Mr Palmer broke down crying as he described to the jury how he found himself trapped upside down in the car "in tremendous pain". |
| He suffered a fractured pelvis, a fractured shoulder, broken ribs, internal abdominal injuries and spine and serious leg injuries. | He suffered a fractured pelvis, a fractured shoulder, broken ribs, internal abdominal injuries and spine and serious leg injuries. |
| "He was going very fast given the terrible weather conditions," said Mr Palmer. | "He was going very fast given the terrible weather conditions," said Mr Palmer. |
| Following the crash he was admitted to hospital and spent 10 months receiving treatment and still faces more rehabilitation. | Following the crash he was admitted to hospital and spent 10 months receiving treatment and still faces more rehabilitation. |
| The jury also heard from another motorist Simon Bonner, who was overtaken by Mr Davies moments before the collision. | The jury also heard from another motorist Simon Bonner, who was overtaken by Mr Davies moments before the collision. |
| "The road was very wet. It had been raining. But when I reached there it was just drizzle. I was travelling about 60 miles an hour. | "The road was very wet. It had been raining. But when I reached there it was just drizzle. I was travelling about 60 miles an hour. |
| "All I could see in front of me was one car and then a car overtaking me. It was the Subaru. It was going at a far whack, about 80 or 90 miles an hour." | "All I could see in front of me was one car and then a car overtaking me. It was the Subaru. It was going at a far whack, about 80 or 90 miles an hour." |
| But another witness told the jury how she thought Mr Davies had been travelling a lot faster. | But another witness told the jury how she thought Mr Davies had been travelling a lot faster. |
| "I slowed down to about 55 miles an hour because of the water and out of nowhere, and I mean nowhere, came this car," said student nurse Emma Able. | "I slowed down to about 55 miles an hour because of the water and out of nowhere, and I mean nowhere, came this car," said student nurse Emma Able. |
| "I can only estimate but I was going 55 and it came past in such a way it frightened me. I would say an easy 100 to 120 miles an hour, definite." | "I can only estimate but I was going 55 and it came past in such a way it frightened me. I would say an easy 100 to 120 miles an hour, definite." |
| She denied that the noise of Mr Davies' engine had given her the impression he was travelling faster than the 60 mph that his defence lawyer said. | She denied that the noise of Mr Davies' engine had given her the impression he was travelling faster than the 60 mph that his defence lawyer said. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |