Four people were seriously injured in a major crash caused by a driver who reached speeds of up to 128mph. Liam Hiett, 25, was behind the wheel of a BMW 4 Series when the collision occurred on the Central Link road in Cardiff. His front-seat passenger, Isabella Black, described his driving as aggressive and stated she would never forgive him for the ordeal.
Hiett had been at a pub in Penarth before driving into Cardiff city centre on October 21, 2022. The court heard that he accelerated to high speeds, with Ms Black feeling the impact of the speed as she was pushed back into her seat. The defendant drove through the Butetown Tunnel at excessive speeds before colliding with another car on the Central Link road.
Judge Simon Mills Esq highlighted the recklessness of Hiett’s actions, noting that the collision was inevitable due to the extreme speeds he was driving at. The crash resulted in serious injuries to all four occupants of the vehicle that was hit by Hiett’s BMW. Nihad Hussain, the driver of the Toyota, suffered a fractured left hip socket, while passengers Omar Bahid and Kashard Kashid sustained multiple fractures and injuries.
Ms Black, who suffered significant physical and emotional trauma, expressed her ongoing struggles following the crash, including her fear of driving and the impact on her job at a car dealership. She stated that she would never forgive Hiett for his actions. Hiett, of Bridgend, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was sentenced to 26 months in prison. He was also disqualified from driving for over four years.
In mitigation, Hiett’s defence barrister acknowledged his client’s remorse and immaturity at the time of the incident. Despite pleading guilty early on and showing remorse, the judge condemned Hiett’s dangerous driving, emphasising the severe consequences of his actions that led to life-altering injuries for the victims.