[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...herts-14205806

Former Olympic 100m champion Linford Christie crashed head on into a taxi with two newly-weds inside while driving the wrong way up the A413 in Buckinghamshire, a court has heard.

The 51-year-old former athlete, from Twickenham, denies dangerous driving in Chalfont St Peter on 8 May last year.

Mr Christie clambered from his badly-damaged Audi A8 after the collision, Aylesbury Crown Court heard.

Soon after he said: "Oh my God, it's all my fault", the jury was told.

Mr Christie was driving towards Amersham when he found himself on the wrong side of the A413, the court heard.

Eight seconds later, his car - with the personalised number plate 100 RUN - hit a silver Mercedes travelling in the opposite direction.
Dragged from taxi

The taxi was propelled on to a grass verge, while the Audi came to a halt in the middle of the carriageway.

Mr Christie, who had recently moved to the area and was on his way back to his girlfriend's home, was able to walk away from his vehicle but newly married Peter Ashton had to be dragged from the taxi.

Opening the case, prosecutor Nigel Ogborne said Mr Christie, of Sherland Road, Twickenham, west London, ploughed into the taxi some time between 2330 and 2340 BST.

"He drove for some 185m (600ft) and, the prosecution say, he drove on the wrong side of the road.

"He was driving on the opposing carriageway and a car was driving the other way and there was a head-on collision."

The court was told Mr Christie was searching for the turning to his girlfriend's home when he collided with the taxi carrying three people - Mr Ashton, his new wife Claire Lloyd-Ashton, her uncle Michael Burt and driver Naeem Akhtar.

Mrs Lloyd-Ashton said: "This male, he said, 'Oh my God, it's all my fault, it's all my fault. He seemed very distressed."

Jurors heard how Mr Christie told a police officer he believed he had been driving at about 30mph (48km/h) that night and the accident happened because he had a "lapse".

The hearing was adjourned until Wednesday.

Ooh .....

Drink/drugs/speeding ?

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/

Former Olympic sprint champion Linford Christie cleared of dangerous driving but found guilty of careless driving

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...herts-14231480

Olympic gold medallist Linford Christie has been found guilty of careless driving after a crash when he drove on the wrong side of the road.

The 51-year-old, of Twickenham, London, was cleared of the more serious charge of dangerous driving.

Aylesbury Crown Court heard Christie had crashed head-on with a taxi carrying newlyweds in Buckinghamshire in May 2010.

The former sprinter was disqualified from driving for 15 months.

He was also fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £1,000 prosecution costs.

IMO, he got off lightly .....

[Omah]

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ne...#ixzz1Sl3GDhaD

Newly-married Peter Ashton, 58, had to be dragged from the vehicle, which was taking him to the Bull Hotel in nearby Gerrards Cross, along with new wife Claire Lloyd-Ashton, 43, and her uncle Michael Burt, 61.

Thames Valley Police said the bride suffered bruising to her chest and knees, while her husband was in hospital for four days after suffering a punctured lung and four broken ribs. Mr Burt was in hospital for two months, including six days in intensive care in an enforced coma.

Following the end of the court case, Mr Burt said: "I'm very disappointed at the outcome. I have to live with the serious injuries that Christie caused. I suffered multiple fractures and damage to my face, which were so severe that I now have several metal plates holding my skull together."

Claire Lloyd-Ashton said: "Whilst we have many happy memories of the wedding day, it has been tainted by the accident and our wedding night was completely ruined. Instead of spending the first night of our married lives at a nearby hotel where champagne and roses were waiting for us, we spent it in A&E."

Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, who represent Mr Burt along with the bride and groom, have confirmed that separate civil claims against Christie are ongoing.

I hope Christie is severely financially penalised for the physical and emotional damage he's caused, both to the accident victims and to their families .....

[Omah]

while driving on wrong side of the road

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...=feeds-newsxml

This is the scene of devastation left by former Olympic sprint champion Linford Christie after he smashed head-on into a taxi while driving the wrong way down a major road.

Taxi driver Naeem Akhtar, 55, from Chesham, was in hospital for three and a half months after suffering fractures to both legs.

He also needed surgery to repair a broken right elbow and left wrist and needs round-the-clock care now he is home.

Jeez, it's lucky no-one was killed, but two of the victims suffered dreadful injuries while Christie walked away without a scratch .....