A350 car crash 'crushed all our hopes and dreams'

Hudson was driving north on the A350 when he collided with the rear of a vehicle in front of him

A woman who sustained life-changing injuries in a four-vehicle crash said the ordeal "crushed" her "hopes and dreams".

Scott Hudson, 57, of Whitton Croft Road, Bradford, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by driving following the crash on the A350 in East Knoyle, Wiltshire on 15 July 2022.

He received an 18-month driving ban.

In a victim impact statement, the injured woman said: "The accident crippled our future plans."

She told Salisbury Magistrates' Court the crash brought "even harder mental and physical restrictions" for her than those imposed during the pandemic.

'Lost a year'

"The accident crushed all our hopes and dreams - we lost money spent on tickets for music festivals and pre booked camping for the summer," she said.

"We have lost a year so far - healthy years that are incredibly precious in retirement.

"I will forever be reminded of the accident from the scars I now carry for the rest of my life."

Hudson was driving a Ford Mondeo north on the A350 when he collided with the rear of a vehicle in front of him, shunting it into the path of a Volkswagen Transporter.

The VW Transporter then collided with another vehicle, causing injuries to the passenger of the VW whose arm became trapped between her van and the road surface.

The woman, who is in her 60s and from Dudley, was airlifted to hospital and has had to have several surgeries.

On Friday Hudson was also given an 18-month community order to complete 300 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £85 Crown Prosecution Service costs, and a £114 victim surcharge.