Moment woman is flung 100ft through the air by speeding Audi in horrifying hit and run – as driver banned for life
SHOCKING footage shows the moment a woman is flung 100ft after a speeding Audi smashed into her in a horrific hit and run.
The 42-year-old woman was struck by an Audi A3 travelling at more than 45mph on Princes Avenue in Hull in the early hours of July 31 2022.
Driver Luke Gough, 36, of Marfleet Lane, Hull, fled the scene, leaving her with a fractured spine, broken leg and a dislocated knee.
The cowardly driver’s motor was found burnt out half a mile away moments after the crash, Hull Crown Court heard.
Gough was jailed for five and a half years on Monday after admitting causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
His passenger Gemma Johnson, 30, of Tanfield Grove, Hull, was given a nine-month suspended prison sentence and 15 days’ rehabilitation. after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice.
Sickening footage shows the woman stepping out into Princess Avenue, before the car speeds along the road towards her.
She can be seen desperately trying to get out of its way as the lights bear down on her.
As it crashes into the woman she is flung 30m in the air, according to police.
The victim then fell onto the roof of the vehicle, smashing into the road and scraping for metres along the tarmac.
Julia Baggs, prosecuting, said the woman was on a night out and had been drinking, and had just got a takeaway pizza before crossing.
There was a “loud bang and a crack” when the car hit her, just as she was about to cross the road, shortly after 1.15am.
Gough drove off with a completely broken windscreen, leaving her horribly injured on the ground.
She was in Hull Royal Infirmary for just under a month, initially in the trauma ward.
The victim was moved to Castle Hill Hospital and needed ongoing care, including a bed in her living room for her and regular physiotherapy.
She had an operation on her right leg in November last year and would need a knee replacement.
A witness later said: “It looked like the Audi was absolutely flooring it.”
Police said the black Audi had sustained damage to the front of the car consistent with striking a pedestrian.
Johnson was heard to say: “You have just hit a f***ing woman. Get out. Get the f*** out.”
Another male said: “I think she’s dead, mate.”
Johnson then said there was a petrol can and told Gough to burn the car: “Luke, you f***ing burn it.”
COWARDLY CRIME
Cops went to Gough’s home in Marfleet Lane on August 1, where Johnson eventually answered the door and she pretended that she did not know where he was.
“He was hiding in the loft in his pants and socks,” said Miss Baggs.
Police said they established it had been travelling at more than 45mph down Princes Avenue, a 30mph zone, at the time of the incident.
When they were arrested, officers found a shard of glass in the washing machine that matched a sample taken from the car.
And during a forensic examination of the Audi, a blood spot was discovered which was a positive match for Gough.
Gough had bought the car only nine days earlier, even though he was a banned driver.
He had been disqualified in 2006 and had never passed the extended retest that he was supposed to do before driving again.
Drugs valued at £465, was found in kitchen cupboards and a bedroom during a police search, alongside £755 cash and Diazepam under a mattress.
‘NEVER-ENDING NIGHTMARE’
Gough was jailed for a total of five-and-a-half years and he was banned from driving for life.
Judge Mark Bury said of the victim: “The injuries that she received have been life-changing. This has had a really serious impact on her life.
“She has had to endure frequent hospital appointments and stays in hospital.
“She has cancelled holidays. She has described this as a never-ending nightmare. She has had to undergo regular physiotherapy. Her life has never been as it was prior to this collision.”
The woman was, nevertheless, “remarkably fortunate” that she had not been killed.
Judge Bury told Gough: “You will never be allowed to drive again. You just drove off. You didn’t stop and you were only concerned with yourself.
“All you were doing was thinking about how to save yourself and you burned the car out. You had no intention of taking responsibility for what you did.”
Judge Bury said of Johnson: “She was more than complicit in the burning out of the vehicle. She was actively encouraging it.”