Drunk driver jailed for Northwich collision that left teenagers talking to taxi driver seriously injured
A Manchester man has been sentenced to four years and six months in prison after causing serious injuries to pedestrians talking to a taxi driver during a collision in Northwich.
Peter Adenuga, 29, was found guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, 16 August, where the sentence was handed down.
The incident occurred on 16 July 2022, when five teenage pedestrians were walking along Budworth Road in Northwich, heading towards Knutsford. At approximately 11.30pm, a grey Mercedes driven by Adenuga collided with four of the five pedestrians as they had stopped to speak to a taxi driver.
Two of the pedestrians sustained severe injuries. One suffered a bleed on the brain along with fractures to the skull, shoulder, and elbow. The second endured a dislocated knee, a fractured hip, and facial fractures. The other two pedestrians received minor injuries, including cuts and grazes.
Adenuga was breathalysed at the scene, returning a reading of 82mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath, more than twice the legal limit of 35mg. He was arrested and later pleaded guilty to drink driving. Additionally, he was charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving, a charge on which he was found guilty after a trial.
In addition to his prison sentence, Adenuga has been banned from driving for five years and three months. He will also be required to pass an extended driving test before regaining his licence.
PC Martin Hilditch, of the Roads and Crime Unit, said: “When you get behind the wheel of a vehicle, you’re in control of a powerful machine, easily capable of causing serious injury or even death.
“Adenuga completely ignored this, not abiding by the rules of the road or considering the safety of other road users, ultimately colliding with innocent members of the public who had been walking down the road.
“As a result of Adenuga’s choices, his victims have been put through not only the emotional trauma of the incident, but also the physical and psychological injuries they suffered, and still suffer with to this day.
“I welcome the sentence handed to Adenuga and hope this serves as a reminder of the long-lasting impact of dangerous driving.”
