Lorry Driver's Chilling Words After M62 Crash That Left Grandmother Disfigured
A lorry driver was recorded uttering six chilling words immediately after a horrific crash on the M62 that left a 70-year-old grandmother with severe facial disfigurement and devastating injuries.
Wayne Burgess, 61, was heard saying 'F****** hell, I've just killed someone' following the collision near Birch Services, close to Rochdale. The court heard it was nothing short of a miracle that the victim, a grandmother of two, survived the ordeal.
Moments Before the Collision
Just moments before the crash on May 2 last year, a distracted Burgess could be heard on a hands-free call reciting a Salford postcode while apparently entering it into his satellite navigation system. Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court was told Burgess tested positive for cocaine following his arrest.
The woman's car was crushed underneath both Burgess's lorry and another vehicle in front, leaving her trapped inside for a significant period of time before firefighters cut her free from the wreckage. She was then rushed to the major trauma unit at Salford Royal Hospital.
Devastating Injuries and Trauma
The victim suffered a fractured eye socket, two broken ribs, numerous cuts, and other serious injuries. Prosecuting barrister Amy Weir told the court the crash left her with severe facial disfigurement that has profoundly impacted her life.
In a victim impact statement read aloud in court, the woman described looking in her rear view mirror and seeing a lorry 'hurtling' toward her as she slowed for heavy traffic while driving home from work. 'The horror that was inevitable hit me in an instant,' she said. 'It seemed like he was trying to kill me. The noise was deafening and when everything went still the silence was eerie. I was helpless, crushed between two lorries and convinced I wasn’t going to survive.'
Life-Altering Consequences
The grandmother explained that she has been unable to work or help look after her grandchildren since the crash. 'This accident didn't just cause physical injuries it upended every aspect of my life,' she stated. 'The trauma continues to affect all of us.'
Defence barrister Hayley Parkes said Burgess took full acknowledgement of the seriousness of the offence and the severity of the impact on the victim. She revealed Burgess had long-standing substance abuse issues and was using cocaine to self-medicate his then undiagnosed ADHD at the time of the incident. He has since undergone a detoxification programme.
Court Sentencing and Remarks
Recorder Katie Jones noted the victim had 'endured a terrible ordeal' and was 'extremely lucky' not to have been killed. 'The terror was indescribable,' she added. 'She thought she was going to die.'
Burgess, from Rossendale in Lancashire, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury through dangerous driving and driving while over the specified drug limit. He received a 17-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, along with:
- A 10-year driving ban
- 300 hours of unpaid work
- 15 days of rehabilitation activities
- A 12-month rehabilitation requirement order
The case highlights the catastrophic consequences of distracted driving and substance abuse behind the wheel, particularly for commercial vehicle operators on busy motorways.
