This is the shocking moment a reckless mum ran a red light before she was hit by a police car which burst into flames.
CCTV shows Stacie Wright’s white Mercedes-Benz A-Class plough into the squad car after she ignored a red light in Birkenhead, Merseyside.
A court heard the impact sparked an immediate fire in the front of the police car while the officer inside suffered injuries and was left traumatised by the crash.
Wright, 35, of Rock Ferry, Merseyside, has now been handed an eight-month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months.
Liverpool Crown Court heard Wright was driving at around 11.15pm on November 12 when she crossed a junction despite the traffic lights having been red for up to eight seconds.
At the same moment, a police car with its blue lights flashing was travelling through a green light on Watson Street.
CCTV, played to the court, shows Wright begin turning right directly into the path of the police vehicle before the two collide.
Within seconds, flames can be seen erupting from beneath the bonnet of the police car.
Prosecutor Nathan Cooper said: “I think that footage amply illustrates what occurred.”
The £15,000 police vehicle was destroyed in the crash and written off, with a further £2,500 in salvage costs.
In a victim personal statement read to the court, Constable Thompson described the aftermath.
He said: “I suffered cuts to my face and bruising, as well as tinnitus and pain to my ribs which took two months to heal.
“I’m struggling to sleep as I cannot get comfortable due to my injuries, causing difficulties with my relationship.
“The fact my vehicle was actually on fire was terrifying.
“Such is the burden on me to put others first, my first thought was to get out and check on the driver.
“Had I been going one or two miles per hour faster, I could have killed someone.
“How close I was to losing everything due to the actions of someone else.
“Every time I close my eyes to go to sleep I still see the flames coming up the bonnet and the smoke filling up my lungs.
“My 12-year-old has additional needs and she is still recovering from being woken in the night to be told what had happened.
“Even six months on, she still makes passing remarks about the crash.”
The officer also said he had been left in “extreme pain”, had to take time off work and missed training opportunities, causing “financial difficulties”.
Defending, Mr Hunt said Wright, a “hardworking” single mother and hairdresser, was “genuinely remorseful” and described the collision as a “moment of inattention”.
Sentencing, Charles Wood, Head of the Bench, said the CCTV showed Wright had committed “the most serious offence” under the sentencing guidelines.
He said: “The CCTV footage is very clear, and having seen it we determine this is a category A1 offence, the most serious offence.
“The traffic light you went through was red for a significant period of time, as much as eight seconds. Clearly, a lot of inattention on your behalf.
“Nine times out of ten this wouldn’t happen, but it’s precisely because of the possible consequences that we have such things in place.
“The fact is: it did happen.”
Wright’s was also banned from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay £272.
