Driver who caused motorcyclist to lose leg jailed

A driver who hit a motorcyclist while overtaking another vehicle, causing the biker to suffer serious burns and the loss of a leg, has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Ethan Hunt, from Bridlington, was driving in foggy conditions with visibility of 20 metres when he performed the "highly dangerous manoeuvre" on the A165 Hunmanby Road in Filey on 25 June 2024, York Crown Court heard.

The motorcyclist, who was riding below the speed limit, was "engulfed in flames" after being thrown from his bike, prosecutors told the court.

After passing sentence on Monday, Judge Sean Morris said: "Young drivers need to know that cars are lethal weapons."

According to prosecutor Michele Stuart-Lofthouse, the motorcyclist effectively "died three times" in hospital before being brought back to life.

He suffered "horrendous" burns to both legs, his buttocks, back, hand, lips, tongue, nose and eyes.

Hunt, 20, was brought in for questioning the day after the accident and charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving, which he pleaded guilty to.

In a victim impact statement, the motorcyclist said the crash had "shattered" his life.

"My days are no longer my own. My life is filled with medical and mental health appointments, physiotherapy and acupuncture, psychiatric appointments and weekly visits from an occupational therapist," he said.

"Before the crash, I lived a full and busy life surrounded by friends.

"My greatest passion was metal detecting on quiet beaches. I had independence, purpose and joy in simple things – that has all been taken from me.

"I now live every day as a prisoner in a life I didn't asked for, a life as an amputee full of pain, limitations and constant reminders of what happened.

"I feel like a burden to my friends and family."

Defence barrister Susannah Proctor said Hunt, who stopped at the scene, had only been driving for a few months when the accident occurred.

She said he was remorseful and was now suffering from depression and possibly post-traumatic stress disorder.

He was otherwise a "courteous, reliable, hard-working young man" who was doing an apprenticeship, the court was told.

Judge Morris said Hunt had overtaken another car on a dark night when it was "quite clear it was dangerous to do so".

"[The victim] was immediately engulfed in flames, thrown into a ditch, his leg virtually severed," he said.

"It's obvious that his life has been completely and utterly turned upside down and he will be severely disabled for the rest of his life. Fortunately, he has his life, but that is just luck."

Hunt, of Sewerby Road, was told he would serve less than half of his sentence in prison before being released on licence.

He was given a 39-month driving ban and must also take an extended re-test before he is allowed to drive again.

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