Speeding driver in orange BMW hit motorcyclist and sent him flying
A man high on cocaine smashed into a motorcyclist and sent the rider flying 300ft in the air while racing another driver.
Mitchel Methuen was found in the driver seat of his orange BMW, which was hissing smoke and had sustained significant damage in the smash. Matthew Davies, the victim, suffered horrific injuries which included damage to almost all parts of his body, including spine, lung, ribs, pelvis, liver and kidney. The injuries were so severe that his thigh had been ripped from his pelvis. He woke up in intensive care a number of weeks later.
Footage shown in court included the moment Methuen, 51, was spotted racing with another man, Oliver Wall, at "stupid speeds" before the crash on the A402 in Cwmbran on November 4 last year. He was driving so fast that his car was seen skidding around a roundabout at speed.
Witness evidence given to a sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court on Wednesday estimated the orange BWM to be driving in excess of 90mph as it was pursued by a grey BMW driven by Wall. Another witness said the orange BMW appeared to be driving between cars in the middle of the road, describing it as driving like a "bat out of hell", reports Wales Online.
Stephen Lloyd witnessed the collision between the orange BMW and Mr Davies' motorbike, with the BMW hitting the bike from behind. He heard an "almighty bang" and saw Mr Davies being thrown into the air. Mr Lloyd had to slam his brakes on to avoid hitting Mr Davies, as the orange BMW swerved and carried on driving without stopping. The witness stopped his car and he and his wife went to assist Mr Davies.
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Prosecutor Andrew Kendal said Mr Davies had "little recollection" of the collision and remembered waking up face down. He said he was advised to keep his helmet on, but lost consciousness again and next woke up in intensive care weeks later. The victim had suffered injuries to his spine, a collapsed lung, fractures to his ribs, right arm, shoulder joint, shoulder blade, right wrist, and multiple fractures to his pelvis. He also suffered injuries to his liver and kidney, and his thigh had become separated from his pelvis.
Mr Davies was taken to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, and was described as having suffered "significantly life threatening injuries". He received treatment and surgery in hospital, where he spent four months before he was discharged. He was said to have made a "reasonable recovery" but could develop arthritis in his hip.
Following the collision, Methuen was seen by a police officer with his orange BMW smoking in the outside lane. The left-hand side of the windscreen was smashed and there was substantial damage to the nearside of the car. The defendant told the officer he had been in a collision with a motorbike. He passed a roadside drink drive test but the officer noticed Methuen glazed and bloodshot eyes, and appeared to be sniffing. He tested positive for cocaine and was arrested. In custody, the defendant gave a reading of 65 micrograms of cocaine per litre of blood.
After the police investigation revealed a second car had been involved in the build up to the collision, Wall was also arrested. A forensic collision investigation revealed the orange BMW did not brake prior to the collision, Mr Davies was thrown 92 metres from the point of impact, and his motorbike was thrown 141 metres from the point of impact.
Methuen, of HMP Usk, later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, drug driving and failing to stop. The court heard he has three convictions for offences including rape and common assault. Wall, of Cooper Close, Newport, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, and was of previous good character.
In a victim personal statement read to the court, Mr Davies said the collision had caused his memory to "shut down" and the pain he experienced at some points during his recovery he "wished he had died instead". He said he had to be fed by liquid through a straw and suffered "excruciating pain".
He added: "I had to have physiotherapy before I was able to get out of bed with a zimmer frame. I spent four-and-a-half months in three different hospitals before being fit enough to be released home. My mother has had to adapt the house to fit my new disability needs. The physical injury has affected my life in so many different ways. I am in pain and tired all the time. I am struggling to wash, shower, or get dressed and I can't even do basic things like cooking.
"My dignity has been totally taken away from me. I get help from my mother which shouldn't be the case for a 34-year-old. It's had a significant effect on my mental health. I am unable to sleep because of nightmares and flashbacks. I can't interact or communicate with people so I want to shut myself away and become a recluse. I worked in a vehicle garage, a physically demanding job which I enjoyed. I can't go back seven months after the incident and can't perform the demands the role requests. It has financially impacted me greatly... I regret being on the road on the night in question and wish I could have my old life back."
In mitigation, Charlotte Evans for Methuen said her client was "extremely sorry" for causing the victim and his family suffering. She said he and Wall did not know each other and described his behaviour as "impulsive". The barrister said the defendant was "shocked and panicked" after the collision. He was said to be suffering with depression, and is struggling with his rape convictions which requires him to sign the sex offenders' register, and had turned to cocaine to deal with his depression.
Addressing Methuen, Recorder Bruce Gardiner said: "This was a poor, prolonged and persistent course of driving, you disregarded the risk of danger to others, raced against another car at speeds in excess of the speed limit and you were highly impaired by the consumption of cocaine... It has had a devastating effect on Mr Davies and his life will never be the same again.."
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Thomas Stanway, for Wall, said his client acted "impulsively" while racing with Methuen for three miles and could give no explanation why he did so. Methuen was sentenced to three years imprisonment and was disqualified from driving for five years and six months. Wall was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and was ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work, and disqualified from driving for two years.
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