Moped rider paralysed after lorry driver pulled out in front of him because he was in a rush to pick up workmate
After having problems with his young son at home, the driver was in a rush while in his lorry
A MOPED rider was left paralysed from the neck down after a lorry pulled out straight into his path when he had right of way.
The lorry driver, Paul Digby, was in a rush to pick up a workmate when he move his seven-and-a-half tonne lorry out in front of Roy Copley as he approached the crossroads.
My Copley now requires full time care and is unable to feed himself.
A keen fisherman, he can now no longer go fishing or play with his pet dog after he was left with severe spinal injuries and paralysed from the neck down.
The 56-year-old's wife also needs care because she now suffers from anxiety.
A statement read to Sheffield Crown Court from Mr Copely, of Barnsley, said: "This has not just changed my life but that of my family. I'm now helpless."
Digby, jailed for 16 months, was running late in picking up a workmate after having problems with his young son at home on Saturday, October 3.
The 46-year-old told officers he recognised the crash was hit fault and that he should have taken more time to check.
Neil Coxon, for the prosecution, told the court Digby told police he had not seen the moped until the collision occurred as he drove through Worsbrough Dale in Barnsley.
He thought he had slowed down and come to a stop at the crossroads, but accident investigators showed he actually slowed to 12mph and was then accelerating at about 18mph at the point of impact.
Defending Digby, Richard Davies, said medical reports showed there is unlikely to be any improvement ion Mr Copley's condition and that Digby was devastated at what he had done.
He told the court: "He said too me if he could swop places with the victim he would. He is devastated at what he has done."
Digby, of Highfields, Doncaster, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
He was banned from driving for two years and will have to take an extended test to regain his licence.
The judge, Recorder John Thackray said: "This is very obviously a tragic case. Mr Copley has had life changing injuries and no sentence that I can impose can in any way compensate or measure the harm caused to Mr Copley.
"Had you slowed you would have seen him. He was there to be seen.
"You were driving at excessive speed for the circumstances of approaching the junction and failing to keep a proper lookout and for that reason it is dangerous driving."
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