The driver of the other car said the ‘pain was so severe that I thought that I was going to die’
Paul Bloice has been jailed after admitting causing serious injury by dangerous driving and failing to provide a blood specimen for analysis(Image: Humberside Police)
A woman and a young child were seriously injured in a horrific crash when a “drunk” driver who was “all over the road” smashed his car straight into hers – knocking her “unconscious” and giving her no chance to take evasive action. She had four children with her in the car when the almost head-on collision suddenly happened, Hull Crown Court heard.
Paul Bloice, 45, of West Newton Road, West Newton, near Burton Constable, Holderness, admitted causing serious injury to Nina Curran and a child by dangerous driving on March 6. He also admitted failing to provide a blood specimen for analysis.
Dale Brook, prosecuting, said that Bloice drove a white BMW car to the Stags Head Inn at Lelley, Holderness, at about 2.50pm. He drank two pints of lager there before driving to the Blue Bell pub, Sproatley, where he drank two more pints of lager.
“He had drunk four pints of lager in the hour before,” said Mr Brook. “These are the ones we know of.”
Bloice drove off at about 4.20pm. “That was minutes before the collision,” said Mr Brook.
At about 4.22pm, Ms Curran, 53, of Hull, was driving a Toyota Yaris in Burton Constable. She had four children with her in the car, the youngest of them in a child seat.
They were staying with her at the time to help their family. She was taking them to Burton Constable Hall country house for a treat, the court heard. Another car overtook Ms Curran shortly before the collision.
Bloice was travelling at speed in the opposite direction and his car seemed to be in the middle of the road. The other driver noticed that, after Bloice passed him, there was a crash behind him.
As Ms Curran turned the corner of a bend, Bloice was on the wrong side of the road and he was driving directly at her car. “Ms Curran tried to take evasive action but the white BMW collided with her Toyota Yaris and the collision was nearly head-on,” said Mr Brook.
The other driver returned to the scene to help. “He helped the children from the car and took them to a safer location,” said Mr Brook.
One of the children suffered abdominal pain and she was later found to have a ruptured bladder. They were all taken to hospital, as was Bloice.
He was unsteady on his feet, his eyes were glazed and his speech was slurred. “He gave all the appearances of being drunk,” said Mr Brook.
A roadside breath test revealed he had 90mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg. He refused to provide a blood sample at the hospital.
“He protested his innocence and tried to blame Ms Curran for the collision,” said Mr Brook. Ms Curran suffered fractures to her right collarbone, right shoulder blade, lower shin bone and ankle.
She had two operations under general anaesthetic, one that day and the other the next day. The injured child also had an operation under general anaesthetic. The ruptured bladder was repaired and a catheter was fitted for seven days.
Ms Curran later said: “I heard a loud bang. The pain was so severe that I thought that I was going to die. I was in and out of consciousness and did not know where I was. I was crying in pain.
“This incident has affected my independence and daily life. Before the collision, I was active and independent.” She had worked as a primary and secondary school locum teacher.
“I am now unable to work,” said Ms Curran. “I do not know when I will be able to return to work and in what capacity.”
She had to spend time with a friend in Lincolnshire before returning home. She previously enjoyed swimming and water polo but she needed a mobility scooter after the collision and she now walked with a stick. She was having physiotherapy for her ankle.
Bloice had been jailed for nine months in March 2020 for dishonesty offences. He was working as a warehouse manager when he stole more than £40,000 of stock to sell on eBay. He had no driving convictions.
Michele Stuart-Lofthouse, mitigating, said that no sentence imposed on Bloice could turn back the clock over the injuries caused. He had shown full remorse, victim empathy and he took full responsibility. He pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.
“This is entirely out of character,” said Miss Stuart-Lofthouse. “He has no recollection of what had happened, perhaps the shock of the incident and the state that he was in.
“He simply can’t remember what happened. His only recollection is that he thought that he had seen a pheasant run into the road.” Bloice had been working and his job was still open to him.
Judge Alexander Menary rejected the suggestion that Bloice had been trying to avoid a pheasant in the road. The evidence was that he had been “all over the road” before the collision.
“This was not a momentary lapse in concentration,” said Judge Menary. One of the children suffered “life threatening” injuries and “particularly grave” abdominal pain.
“The offences are so serious that only an immediate sentence of imprisonment can be justified,” said Judge Menary. He recommended that the driver who helped at the scene of the crash be commended for his actions as a “true Good Samaritan”.
Bloice, who had been on bail, was jailed for two years and eight months. He was banned from driving for five years and three months and he must pass an extended retest before he can drive legally again.
After the hearing, Ms Curran told Hull Live: “I was just pleased that he got sent down straight away and didn’t get a suspended sentence. I know that he is not going to serve all the 32 months but I am just pleased that he got sent away.
“I hope that he uses the time to reflect on his actions and that he never does anything like that again.” She thanked the driver in front of her who stopped, turned round and came back to help.
She also thanked other passer-by, Adrian Fisher and his wife, who stopped and stayed at the scene.
He took his jacket off, rolled it up and made a cushion for Ms Curran so she could lie on the ground, she said.
He spoke to her until the paramedics arrived and his wife stayed with the children. She found it “touching” that there were “still decent people out there”.
She said of Bloice: “I noticed how glazed his eyes were and I thought: ‘You’re smashed’.” She had been “knocked unconscious” in the collision.
Did you know you can make Hull Live a preferred source of Hull news in Google, which will mean you get more of our breaking news, exclusives, and must-read stories straight away? Here’s more information about what this means and how to do it – you can also do it straight away by clicking here.