Woman ploughed into three American students in King's Cross horror smash

Aftermath: Emergency services responding to the crash
London Ambulance Service
Tom Marshall8 July 2016
WEST END FINAL

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A driver inflicted “horrendous” life-changing injuries when she ploughed into three American students who were on a short study trip in London.

Toma Bruziene, 34, careered onto a pavement and hurtled into the three women with such impact that they were thrown about six metres.

One of the women suffered life-threatening injuries and it was a “miracle” that all three survived after the late-night crash in King’s Cross, police said.

The women, all aged 20, were visiting London for a term last summer, but their trip turned into a nightmare of “hospital stays, numerous medical appointments and immobility” after the smash.

Jailed: Toma Bruziene
Metropolitan Police

They were walking back to their student halls in York Way after a night out in London when they were struck, at about 4am on Saturday, August 29.

Police said one of the women suffered a serious head injury and another fractured her neck.

All three suffered numerous other fractures and cuts.

Bruziene, who had been drinking, fled the scene before abandoning the Toyota Avensis she was driving in a private car park.

A taxi driver chased her after witnessing the crash – in which she uprooted a small tree – and attempted to detain her.

She got away before handing herself in the next morning.

Bruziene, of John Walsh Tower, Leytonstone, was this week jailed for three years and four months.

She admitted three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and failing to stop at the scene of a crash.

The victims' legal team said in a statement: “The reckless behaviour of the defendant has had a devastating impact upon three young students but also upon the driver's own family. No-one involved in this tragic incident has been left unscathed.

“They have all now returned to the United States to continue their education but there is no doubt that the semester in London was a far cry from that which it had been intended to be. They were unable to enjoy the experience of living in London and all that it has to offer and instead their experience was one of in-patient hospital stays, numerous medical appointments and immobility."

Detective Sergeant Chris Osborne, of the Met's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "This was an appalling incident for everyone concerned. It was a miracle all three women survived, although they suffered horrendous life-changing injuries. To make matters worse, she then failed to stop and tried to conceal her car.

"The actions of the taxi driver in following her and attempting to detain her were rightly commended by the judge. We wish all three girls well in their on-going recovery."

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