Woman gave birth after being hit by dangerous driver

A man has been jailed for dangerous driving after mounting the pavement and hitting a pregnant woman, along with her husband and their toddler.

The crash happened in Level Street, Brierley Hill, in June 2023.

The husband and wife were seriously injured and two days later the woman gave birth to a boy who spent nine months in hospital and suffered a permanent brain injury as a result of the premature birth, police said.

Brandon Payne, 24, was jailed for three years and four months after admitting three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

West Midlands Police said thankfully the two-year-old boy did not suffer serious injuries in the crash.

The force said Payne had been driving a Volvo and lost control while overtaking another vehicle.

He remained at the scene until emergency services arrived, and went on to test positive for alcohol and was arrested for drink-driving.

Payne, of Green Park Road in Dudley, was also disqualified from driving for four years and eight months during a hearing at Wolverhampton Crown Court on 22 August.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: "We know nothing can ever replace the time lost as a result of a serious collision such as this.

"Sadly, this collision reinforces the importance of driving within the law as otherwise there can be tragic consequences.

"In the West Midlands, we have set the goal to reduce road death and serious injury to zero under Vision Zero."

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