Teen driver crashes into man playing ball while she was chatting to a friend

A young woman who was ‘distracted’ while chatting to a friend was caught on camera ploughing into a teenager with her car.

Lexi Dyas, 19, was jailed after a judge saw the shocking video of her mowing down the teenager playing rugby with friends in the near-empty car park.

Dyas smashed into Declan Mahoney at ‘excessive speed’ in her personalised Fiat 500 while he played with a ball in the car park, the court heard.

A court heard Declan, 19, tried to get out of the way, but Dyas swerved her car, hitting him and sending him flying into the air.

He was taken to hospital with multiple fractures to his arm, leg and finger after the smash in Mountain Ash, South Wales, in July 2024.

Dyas, who sobbed in court, claimed it was an ‘accident’ in her police interview after being distracted behind the wheel while chatting with a friend.

Prosecutor Andrew Davies said: ‘She indicated it was an accident which occurred because of her not concentrating.

‘She said she didn’t have a grudge against Declan Mahoney at all. She said she thought Declan had run the opposite way to her car, and the next thing she knew, she hit him.’

Cardiff Crown Court heard Dyas ‘lost concentration’ while chatting to a friend in the car.

Defending Emma Harris said Dyas, who had aspirations of becoming a nurse, ‘feels terrible’ for the injuries caused.

Dyas, of Mountain Ash, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

In a victim impact statement, Mr Mahoney said he struggles with daily life after Dyas had shown him ‘no remorse.’

He said: ‘It has had a big impact on every aspect of my life. I’m nervous to leave the house.’

Judge Recorder Christian Jowett sentenced Dyas to 18 months and banned her from driving for two years and nine months.

He said: ‘You used excessive speed when you drove deliberately and directly at Mr Mahoney.’

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