Motorcyclist unable to recall crash that put him in hospital
A MOTORCYCLIST who was left fighting for his life after an early-morning crash last year has not been punished in the Magistrate’s Court.
Steven Brouard, 34, admitted driving without due care and attention, despite having no memory of the crash.
He suffered a ruptured spleen, six broken ribs and a fractured spine.
Judge Graeme McKerrell decided to make no order.
‘In the very curious and very special circumstances of this case, the fact you have come to court and accepted culpability in my view is sufficient,’ he said.
The court heard how Mr Brouard, of 25, Clos l’Ecole, St Peter Port, worked as a fisherman and on the morning of 13 November at 6.30am was contacted and asked to come to work.
There were no witnesses to the crash, but the sound Mr Brouard’s motorcycle revving as it came down Fountain Street was heard.
As he reached Church Hill, he lost control of the bike and crashed into a Ford Transit parked on the hill.
When he was later interviewed, he said he had no memory of that morning and the first thing he could remember was waking up four days after the incident.
The road was damp with dew at the time and Mr Brouard thought the bike could have skidded on a drain cover, but no one knew exactly what had happened.
He had no previous convictions on his record.
Defence advocate David Thompson said his client had been riding motorcycles for more than 20 years and had driven this route many times before.
Mr Brouard had pleaded guilty to the charge because he had been on the bike and had been in the accident, but he did not know what had happened.
The defendant was left with life-changing injuries following the crash and even now did not know whether he would ever be able to return to work as a full-time fisherman.
Advocate Thompson said Mr Brouard hoped that the court hearing would give him closure.
Judge McKerrell said after looking at the circumstances, he decided to make no order.
