Elderly Driver’s Shopping Trip Ends in Injury and Court Appearance

A tourist visited. She was hurt badly. A lorry driver hit her. Michael Jones drove the car. It happened in Liverpool city centre. He shopped for paper. It was for his wife. He drove a Seat Ateca.

Jones tried a three-point turn. He hit the accelerator by mistake. He drove backwards quickly. His car hit Maria Oginska. She was a pedestrian. The car crashed into a theatre. Oginska was trapped.

She had come from Poland. She was visiting her cousin. Medics did CPR on her. Her cousin watched and She thought Oginska was dead. Jones parked on double yellow lines. It was October 29, 2023.

Peter Hussey spoke in court. Oginska walked with relatives when Jones hit the accelerator hard. The car sped up fast. It crashed through bollards and went into a pedestrian area.

The car missed one person, then hit Oginska. She was carried on the bonnet. Then, she was under the car. It stopped at the Royal Court. Another person jumped away.

The cousin ran to help. Oginska was under the car. Someone fainted from chest pain. Theatre staff rushed to help too. Police arrived and they lifted the car.

Oginska screamed, meaning she was alive, but she was badly hurt. She stayed in the hospital a long time. She had broken bones and lung issues. She needed blood and surgery.

Another person suffered bruising. The cousin got PTSD. Jones said his foot slipped and he hit the accelerator then. He had no prior convictions.

Damian Nolan defended Jones. He called it a tragedy and said sorry to the victims. Jones had been a driver for years. He had a clean record, Nolan said.

Jones wanted paper for his wife. The shops were closing, so he parked where he shouldn’t have. He pressed the accelerator, and this caused the accident.

Jones admitted his guilt. He got a suspended sentence. He must also pay court costs. The judge called it a tragic case, and Jones was described as not agile.

The judge said Jones parked badly, but that didn’t cause the accident. Turning needed extra care. He pressed the wrong pedal. It was a bad error.

The judge noted the serious injuries. Oginska nearly died. He said driving comes with duty. The judge wondered if Jones should drive, as his wife has poor health, too.

The judge said Jones felt bad and accepted responsibility. These crashes have big results. But prison wasn’t needed, he said. Jones was banned from driving.

He cannot drive for three years. He needs a driving test after. Jones won’t drive again because he surrendered his license. His driving career is over.