Man, 21, jailed over horror crash that almost killed his friend

A young driver has been jailed after critically injuring his close friend in a car crash.

Josh Murdon, 21, was speeding heavily when he lost control of a Volkswagen Golf GTI along Hucknall Road, near Linby, on 20 April last year.

Nottingham Crown Court heard he was also under the influence of drugs and crashed after striking a kerb.

The car flipped a number of times before coming to rest in a field (pictured).

Emergency services attended and both Murdon and his passenger were taken to hospital.

Murdon sustained only minor injuries, with tests showing he was over the legal drug-drive limit for cannabis at the time of the collision.

Meanwhile, his passenger – his second cousin as well as a close friend – was left in a coma with life-threatening injuries. The court heard he survived the crash with medics describing him as a “walking miracle”.

Murdon refused to comment when interviewed by police a few weeks after the crash, but the court heard he told paramedics on the way to hospital that he had been driving at around 70mph when he hit the kerb.

He also told them his phone had been ringing and that the collision happened as he looked down at the phone with the intention of declining the call.

The passenger spent several weeks in hospital before providing a statement in which he claimed Murdon repeatedly broke the speed limit during the car journey, including driving at over 100mph along the A611 Annesley Road bypass moments before the crash.

The passenger, aged 23 at the time, told police he had told Murdon to slow down but was ignored.

As a result of the crash, he sustained 20 broken bones – including his skull, back and ribs – that continue to cause him physical and mental pain every day.

Murdon, of Chapel Lane, Ravenshead, went on to plead guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was jailed for two years and two months on Tuesday (23 July). He was also disqualified from driving for four years and three months.

Following the sentencing, PC Haddon Smith, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:

“Murdon showed a complete lack of regard for the rules of the road and drove at excessive speed while under the influence of drugs, which were still in his system after he’d taken them the night before.

“As a result, he inflicted life-changing and lifelong injuries on his friend and relative. When questioned in two police interviews, Murdon did not have the courage to accept responsibility for his actions – something that upset his victim considerably. 

“The police investigation into this incident has always been to seek the truth, achieve answers for the victim and to hold Murdon to account. I hope the conclusion of the subsequent court proceedings has brought some comfort and closure to the victim and his family. 

“This has been a life-changing incident for the victim who bravely stood in front of the courtroom and read out his moving victim personal statement. The sentence passed down to Murdon reflects the seriousness of his actions – but while he’ll be able to return to some form of normality following his release from prison, his victim’s life has changed forever.

“Despite this, I hope he continues to defy the odds and overcome the medical diagnoses that have resulted from this crash. As the court heard, he is a walking miracle and I wish him the very best going forward.”