The horrifying moment a mum and her husband were sent flying from their motorcycle after being hit by a driver high on drugs was caught on camera.
Tragically, the pair are now suffering with life-changing injuries, and need to use a wheelchair.
Alison Amner, 55, and her husband, Richard, 58, were catapulted into the air after a drugged-up driver sped down the wrong side of the road.
The 55-year-old was driving on the back of her husband's bike before she was thrown eight feet into the air, and as she fell down, she smacked onto a raised patch of gravel located on the other side of a garden wall.
Meanwhile, her husband suffered a triple open fracture of his femur among other life-changing injuries.
Shockingly, as couple lay in agony, the drugged driver tried to drive away, but the poor state of his vehicle stopping him from doing so.
Image:
Y Byd ar Bedwar/WALES NEWS SERVICE)Image:
Y Byd ar Bedwar/WALES NEWS SERVICE)Stoned Matthew Bell, 49, collided with the pair as he drove on the wrong side of the road, trying to overtake a van on the bend - just as the couple were turning into it themselves.
Four months on after the horrific accident, the pair have undergone more than 20 blood transfusions, and still need the use of a wheelchair. As well as this, they receive daily visits from carers.
However, the pair have not seen each other for weeks as they remain in different hospitals, with Richard at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, while Alison remains at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen.
Now, the couple have spoken out about their ordeal, after Bell was jailed for 30 months over the crash - of which he will only serve half in prison.
Image:
Y Byd ar Bedwar/WALES NEWS SERVICE)On 16 July this year, the couple took their Yamaha bike for a spin around Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, when the accident occurred.
The distressing footage, which was caught on a home CCTV camera, shows the dangerous driver colliding his Chevrolet car with the couple head on.
As Bell's vehicle hits the motorbike, it can be crumbling into bits as Alison and Richard fly into the air.
Following the horror incident, Bell tested positive for cocaine and cannabis in his system.
Horrifyingly, he even admitted to police that he drank lager from a can in his car between the crash happening and the authorities turning up at the scene.
Image:
Y Byd ar Bedwar/WALES NEWS SERVICE)In fact, the terrifying crash was so graphic that jurors in Swansea Crown Court were allowed to leave if it was too distressing.
It was revealed that Bell, from Ferryside, Carmarthenshire, not only failed to stop immediately after the crash, but openly blamed the rider of the motorcycle and his wife for the crash.
He also went on to tell police at the scene that “they were on the wrong side of the road”.
Image:
Y Byd ar Bedwar/WALES NEWS SERVICE)However, the dangerous driver admitted two charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving while unfit through drugs, driving without a licence and driving without insurance.
Prosecutor James Hartson said: “He continued to drive after the collision and witnesses formed the view that it was obvious he was trying to get away,” adding “He attempted to blame the rider of the motorcycle and was heard to say ‘I’m f****d’.”
In a victim impact statement, Alison said: "Emotionally, physically and mentally I can’t do anything. I am so scared for the future. Financially I don’t know what is going to happen - I am self-employed so I don’t know how I’m going to cope.”
Image:
Y Byd ar Bedwar/WALES NEWS SERVICE)She went on to add: “I have a pin and plate in the leg, I have a plate in my hand, I broke my finger, my nose, nine ribs and a punctured lung.
“We rely on other people to do things for us. Like washing us, making food for us, helping put clothes on, brushing my hair.”
Alison revealed that their 29-year-old daughter, Jody, is now caring for her parents at home, after her dad had over 10 surgeries in a month.
Jody said: It’s a tough time for all of us because we are very close as a family.”
Speaking about her parent's injuries, the daughter added: "With regards to the injuries, we don’t really know at this stage as they are life-changing injuries. Even my mum, whose injuries weren’t as serious, still can’t come home from the hospital, and my dad is still bedbound.”
Image:
WALES NEWS SERVICE)Image:
Y Byd ar Bedwar/WALES NEWS SERVICE)Their house is also currently undergoing major renovations to help the couple adapt to their life after sustaining the injuries.
Richard and Alison are now also calling for tougher prison sentences for drivers who seriously injure while under the influence of drink or drugs, with Alison saying: “The convictions that he’s had, he’s done it more than once, over 60 odd convictions and still continuing to drive the road and this is what he did.
“It needs to change. He’ll be able to get up, he’ll be able to get washed and dressed, he’ll have food handed to him. It’s just not enough.”
And their daughter added: "With regards to sentencing, I think the guidelines need to change.
“They don’t make sense. I would not want this to happen to anyone else, any other family, it’s awful. It’s life-changing for everyone.”
Meanwhile, a fundraising campaign has also been set up to support the couple and help cover bills, as well as to get them back together and back home as quickly as possible.