Horror at M6 services as woman’s life changed forever in ‘catastrophic’ incident

A 62-year-old woman was crushed against her own car when pensioner David Cornick accidentally pressed on the wrong pedal and reversed straight into her

15:18, 24 Sep 2025

An 82-year-old man has been spared jail after he reversed his car into a woman at a motorway service station, in a horror accident which has left her confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

David Cornick lost control of his electric car and crushed the 62-year old against her own vehicle in 2023. He was moving out of a parking space in his Nissan Leaf when he says he put his foot on what he thought was the brake when it was in fact the accelerator.

The woman, who had been stood near the rear of her VW Golf[1] at Knutsford services on the M6 in Cheshire, was left with multiple injuries including fractures to her thigh and pelvis, resulting in her needing seven blood transfusions.

She underwent four months of hospital treatment including a spell in intensive care, was left with permanent nerve damage and is unable to stand for long periods. She will require a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

The retired tree surgeon was described by his counsel as "one of the nicest men in the world[2]," appeared at Chester Crown Court where he faced up to three years in jail.

He was given 15 months in jail, suspended for 12 months, after he admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The incident happened at 1.30pm on September 26, 2023 when Cornick was taking a trip from Liverpool to Derbyshire with his wife. He had stopped to charge his vehicle but accidentally drove into the woman whilst he was waiting for a charging point to become available.

Mr Harvey Appleby, prosecuting, said: "The defendant was reversing his vehicle out of a parking space when it struck the victim, Linda Whythe who was stood at the rear of her vehicle in the same car park. She was crushed between the two vehicles and in response, the defendant and his wife exited the vehicle and emergency services were called.

"Officers attended the scene and conducted a preliminary impairment test and an eye test with the defendant.

He passed without issue and no drugs or alcohol were found in his system.'

"As a result of this incident, the victim suffered life changing injuries, her hips were immobilised and there was heavy bleeding to the hip region. There was a T-shaped laceration wound to her lower abdomen, a crush injury to the pelvic bone resulting in multiple fractures to the pelvic bone including an open fracture.

"There was a fracture to the left thighbone, which was dislocated out of the normal position and she received extensive treatment over a period of several months."

In a statement, the victim said: "I cannot stand up for more than 20 minutes. I can walk for 500 metres without aid but anything further requires a wheelchair due to the pain and swelling.

The orthopaedics expert says that I may eventually be able to walk two or three kilometres - but not five or 10 and I will need a chair.

"This accident has forever changed my life. I will never be able to walk long distances, hike, dance, run or participate in other activities I used to take for granted. The wheel chair will be a permanent feature.

I appreciate I survived the accident but each day is a struggle".

In mitigation, nine character references were submitted on Cornick's behalf, including two from retired GPs. His counsel Miss Lisa Judge said: ''It is right to say that potentially he could be described as one of the nicest men in the world. A self-imposed sentence is likely to have more of an impact on him than the court will impose."

Cornick, from Aigburth in Liverpool, was also banned from driving for two years with a requirement that he undertakes an extended driving test before he gets his licence back and he was also told to pay GBP300 in costs.

The court heard he was willing to give up driving due to the incident.

Judge Steven Everett told Cornick: "For whatever reason you failed to control that vehicle as you should have done. It reversed far too fast and the vehicle went out of control - sadly a woman was behind that vehicle - and up against her vehicle and pinned her between the two cars.

''The injuries cannot be understated - you know that and I know you regret it bitterly - but they were catastrophic and life changing and listening to her personal statement - she is late middle aged and had a lot to look forward to - all of that has been taken away from her.''

But he added: ''You have had a completely trouble free and excellent life. You have worked hard.

You have a fantastic work record, you are now retired and you are still doing charitable work in the local park area. So many people have spoken so highly of you.

"I accept this is no doubt a blot on your life, something you never intended and something you bitterly regret. There is a clear regret and remorse.

If you could turn the clock back I recognise that you would do that.

There was never an intention for this to happen but it did happen.''

References

1. ^ Golf (www.mirror.co.uk)
2. ^ world (www.mirror.co.uk)