Man jailed for crash that paralysed firefighter

Man jailed for crash that paralysed firefighter

A man has been jailed for dangerous driving after causing a crash that left a firefighter paralysed.

Samuel Powell was travelling northbound along the A41 Northwestern Avenue in Watford, at the junction with the A405, when he struck a cyclist who was on his way to work.

The collision happened at around 8.40am on Friday 18 August 2023.

The cyclist, who was 25 at the time and helped at the scene by an off-duty police officer, was rushed to hospital by paramedics having sustained serious injuries. He will rely on a wheelchair for life after being paralysed from below his belly button.

Determined to stay active, he has since joined a wheelchair triathlon club as he continues his rehabilitation.

Following the collision, Powell, of The Belfry, Luton, was charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving. The 29-year-old denied the offence but was found guilty following a two-day trial at St Albans Crown Court in September.

The court heard how Powell’s mobile phone was displaying TikTok videos around the time of the collision, with detectives proving there was no phone holder in his vehicle.

At a sentencing hearing at St Albans Crown Court yesterday, Powell was sentenced to three years and four months imprisonment. He has also been banned from driving for two years once released and will have to take an extended re-test.

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