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Teacher's '120mph danger crash' Teacher's '120mph danger crash'
(about 1 hour 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 drove as fast as 120mph before losing control of his car in a crash which left another driver in a wheelchair, a 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. Merthyr Crown Court was told Paul Davies, 51, crashed head-on into Kelvin Palmer's Ford Fiesta causing the front of it to "disintegrate".
He hit a Ford Fiesta head on, which left driver Kelvin Palmer in hospital for 10 months and in a wheelchair. Mr Palmer was in hospital for 10 months and needs a wheelchair after the crash on the A465 Heads of the Valleys road.
Mr Davies, a head at a Cwmdare school, denies dangerous driving. Davies, head teacher at Cwmdare Primary School, denies dangerous driving.
One witness estimated Mr Davies, 51, from Hirwaun, was driving his Subaru Impreza at up to 120mph (200kmph) before the collision which involved a total of four cars.
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 AbleIt 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 fair 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 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.