Tesco Car Park Tragedy: Woman Loses Leg in Cashpoint Collision
An elderly woman has suffered life-changing injuries after a horrific incident at a Tesco supermarket car park in Macclesfield. The 80-year-old victim lost her right leg following a collision with a vehicle as she approached a cashpoint outside the store.
Details of the Devastating Incident
The tragic event occurred at the Tesco store located in Broken Cross, Macclesfield. According to reports, the woman had walked up to the cashpoint when she was struck by an Audi A3 being driven by 76-year-old Peter Bowen from Chelford. Bowen had been parked in the car park and attempted to drive away from his parking space.
Instead of reversing out of the parking bay, Bowen's vehicle moved forward directly toward the cashpoint area. The elderly woman became trapped between the car and a wall, suffering severe crush injuries to her legs that required immediate emergency medical attention.
Severe Injuries and Medical Consequences
Emergency services including police and paramedics rushed to the scene following reports of a serious collision. The victim was transported to hospital where she underwent surgery for her injuries.
Due to the severity of the damage sustained in the July 29, 2024 incident, medical professionals were forced to amputate the woman's right leg from the knee downward. She also required extensive surgical treatment on her other leg as a result of the traumatic collision.
Legal Proceedings and Court Outcome
The Serious Collision Investigation unit at Cheshire Constabulary conducted a thorough investigation into the incident. Peter Bowen was initially charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving but pleaded not guilty, claiming a vehicle fault caused the collision.
Following court proceedings at Crewe Magistrates' Court, Bowen was found guilty of the lesser charge of causing serious injury by careless driving. On March 31, the 76-year-old appeared before the same court where he received the following penalties:
- A fine of £4,154
- A two-year driving ban
- Additional surcharge of £1,662
- Court costs of £400
- Requirement to pass an extended driving test after his disqualification period ends
Police Warning About Vehicle Safety
A spokesperson for Cheshire Police emphasized the serious nature of the incident, stating: "This case shows how dangerous vehicles can be, causing life-changing injuries at very slow speed."
The spokesperson continued: "Cars are lethal machines and I hope this acts as a warning to always ensure you are fully concentrating when in charge of a vehicle – it can only take a very small error to cause catastrophic injuries."
The tragic incident serves as a sobering reminder of the potential consequences of momentary lapses in attention while operating motor vehicles, even in seemingly safe environments like supermarket car parks.
