A social outing turned tragic when a 17-year-old girl caused her friend to suffer a lifelong brain injury after he fell from the bonnet of a car she was driving in a school car park. The victim’s father described the harrowing moment he found his son “lifeless and bloodied” in the arms of a police officer.
The incident occurred on May 17 in the car park of Brecon High School, where several vehicles were parked. CCTV footage showed a Renault Clio being driven with a passenger sitting on the bonnet. The driver, Chanelle Guest, now 18, was not the registered owner of the vehicle nor insured to drive it.
During the sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court, it was revealed that Guest started driving the car while her friend remained on the bonnet. As she attempted a right-hand turn, the victim slipped and fell, striking his head severely on the road.
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The car stopped immediately, and Guest along with her friends rushed to assist the injured boy, who was unable to sit up. Police arrived on the scene first, finding the victim bleeding profusely from his left ear and drifting in and out of consciousness.
The victim suffered a complex skull fracture on the left side, multiple brain bruises, and bleeding inside his brain. He spent several days in critical care before being discharged, only to return with further complications including facial drooping and loss of eye closure on the affected side.
Guest pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving. The court learned she had no prior convictions.
In a moving statement, the victim’s father detailed the profound impact of the injuries. Once a talented engineering student, skilled air rifle shooter, and lifeguard, his son’s short-term memory and everyday life have been severely affected. Despite outward appearances, the brain injury has altered his personality, leading to mood swings, aggression, depression, and nightmares about the accident.
The father described the initial shock of seeing his son covered in blood and unconscious, the difficult hospital stay, and ongoing struggles with his mental and physical health. He emphasized how much the injury had taken from the vibrant young man they once knew.
In defense, Guest’s lawyer highlighted her remorse and caring nature, noting she helps care for her autistic brother. It was also pointed out that the victim had climbed onto the car bonnet voluntarily, a factor that contributed to the accident.
Judge Jeremy Jenkins acknowledged the youthful recklessness behind the incident, calling it a tragic accident that left a young man permanently disabled. Guest received a 21-month sentence in a young offenders institute, suspended for 21 months, along with 100 hours of unpaid work and a two-year driving ban.