Drug driver struck girl, 13, then blamed seizure

A driver seriously injured a 13-year-old girl while driving under the influence of cocaine and then claimed a seizure caused the collision.

David Campbell, 37, who had been told by doctors not to drive because of his epilepsy, veered off the road in Northfield, Birmingham, on 3 September 2024, hitting a traffic light and the girl, who was pinned against railings.

The girl suffered multiple serious injuries, including a bleed on the brain, a depressed skull fracture and a fractured spine.

Campbell, of Bridgeburn Road, Birmingham, was found to have cocaine in his system and traces of cannabis. He was sentenced to four years and eight months at the city's crown court.

Campbell remained at the scene after members of the public prevented him from leaving. When officers arrived, one spotted him trying to put drugs in his mouth. He was arrested, and the drugs were recovered.

During a police interview, he claimed he could not remember what had happened because he suffered from epilepsy.

However, West Midlands Police said he had been told several times by doctors not to drive because of his condition.

He had continued driving, failed to take his epilepsy medication and failed to notify the DVLA of his condition, the force said.

Toxicology tests found no trace of his epilepsy medication in his system.

Campbell pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving while unfit through drugs, and possession of Class A drugs, possession of an offensive weapon and driving with a proportion of a controlled drug above the legal limit.

He was disqualified from driving for six years and two months, with the ban starting when he is released from prison.

PC Aroon Aftab, from the force's road traffic investigation team, said Campbell had chosen to drive under the influence of drugs despite knowing he was not taking his epilepsy medication and ignoring doctors' advice.

He said: "The choices he made, and his selfish actions caused serious injury to a young girl who was just going about her day waiting to cross the road."

He thanked members of the public who helped at the scene, saying they had helped keep the girl calm during what must have been a terrifying ordeal.

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