Woman jailed after crashing into teen and fleeing scene

Drink-driver Chloe Thynne, aged 38, of Old Vicarage Lane, Kemble, was sentenced to four years and four months imprisonment at Swindon Crown Court on Tuesday.

She will serve half the term in prison and the other half on licence and was banned from driving for six years.

Thynne was driving her Audi Q5 from a pub in Corston near Malmesbury northbound on the A429 when she crossed over the central white line, colliding with a Nissan Micra travelling in the opposite direction at around 9pm on October 15, 2021.

The driver of the Nissan, William Pike - who was 18 at the time and is from Malmesbury - suffered life-threatening injuries and required extensive treatment in hospital.

The two passengers, both young men, also suffered serious injuries.

Thynne then fled the scene and returned home, leaving the three men at the roadside.

When she was arrested at her home address, she initially denied being the driver.

Thynne eventually changed her plea and pleaded guilty to three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, failing to stop at the scene of a collision and driving without insurance in June.

It later transpired that Thynne was over the alcohol limit at the time of the incident, the court heard.

It took over an hour for Mr Pike to be extricated from his vehicle before being taken to Southmead Hospital.

He remained in a critical condition for 10 days and underwent several complex operations after suffered a brain injury and complex orthopaedic injuries.

William Pike in hospital after the crash on the A429 (Image: William Pike)

Investigating officer Sergeant Rich Hatch of the serious collision investigation team at Wiltshire police said: “This has been an arduous two years for the three young men, and their families affected by this collision, and I am extremely grateful to all of them for their commitment to this case.

“The defendant made a choice on the day back in October 2021 to drive her car in such a manner that she did not think of the possible consequences and with no regard to other road users.

“When things did go horribly wrong, she fled the scene and showed little to no remorse towards the three men in the other car.

“Today’s sentence should serve as a warning to all motorists that the split-second actions and decisions taken by drivers can result in horrendous injuries which not only affect the victims and their futures but their wider families as well.”

Reacting to the sentencing, William's mother Rebecca Pike said: “We’re glad that justice has been served and that Chloe Thynne can no longer pose a threat to other drivers on the road.

"We hope this sentence will act as a deterrent and an important reminder that dangerous driving has life-changing consequences not only for the victims and their families but also for the perpetrators themselves.

“The impact this collision has had on our family has been utterly devastating, but we hope this can provide some closure, so that Will can begin to move on positively with his life.

“Finally, we’d like to thank all of the incredible people that were around Will that night, during what was an unbelievably traumatic experience, not only for Will but also for them.

“We’d also like to pay tribute to James Tooley and his Helicopter Emergency Medical Service team and the other remarkable NHS staff at Southmead Hospital, without whom, Will wouldn’t be here today.

"They were amazing that night and have continued to give him wonderful care and support during his recovery.”