A driver has been sent to prison after his high-speed supercar crash resulted in serious injuries and a house being set ablaze in a seaside town.
Reckless Driving Leads to Catastrophe
Zachary Hocking, 28, was behind the wheel of a £100,000 McLaren 570GT V8 in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, in December 2023 when he lost control. The vehicle was travelling at an average speed of 91mph in a zone with a 30mph limit, close to three times the legal speed, before it ploughed into a residential property.
The impact was so severe that the supercar was engulfed in a fireball. Hocking's passenger, a man in his 20s, was thrown approximately 25 metres from the wreckage. Both men sustained serious injuries in the collision.
Miraculous Escape for Homeowners
The force of the crash caused both the high-performance car and the house to catch fire. Remarkably, no one inside the property was injured in the terrifying incident.
Photographic evidence from the scene revealed the extent of the devastation. Huge scorch marks were visible up the side of the house, and trees in the front garden were left blackened. The McLaren itself was rendered completely unrecognisable, with its tyres and twisted metal frame lying burnt amongst piles of dislodged bricks.
Justice Served in Court
Hocking, who is from Lytham St Annes, appeared at Preston Crown Court this week where he admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving. The judge sentenced him to 28 months in prison.
In addition to his jail term, he was banned from driving for 74 months. The court ruled that he must pass an extended driving test before he can ever get his licence back.
Inspector Greg Laidlow of the Road Policing Unit commented on the case, stating: 'Hocking drove in an extremely reckless and selfish manner resulting in the collision which left both himself and his passenger badly injured and a house badly damaged by fire.'
He added, 'You only need to look at the wreckage of the car to conclude it's a miracle that no-one was killed.' The inspector praised the complex investigation led by PC Ben Doughty and the Forensic Collision Investigation Unit, which ensured a substantial prison term and a significant driving ban were secured.
