Pedestrian thrown into the air by driver speeding for late-night dessert

Amandeep Karir was racing up The Avenue towards Sprinkles Gelato in Portswood, and travelling between 40 and 50mph in a 30mph zone, when he struck his unsuspecting victim.

The pedestrian, 28-year-old PhD student Alex Richardson, was thrown 8ft into the air, landing like a “ragdoll”.

He suffered life changing injuries, including several broken bones and severe lacerations to his back.

Appearing at Southampton Crown Court, Karir, of South View Road, was sentenced to 16 months in prison.

The 23-year-old, an assistant manager for car company Enterprise, pleaded guilty to causing injury by dangerous driving.

Sentencing Karir, Judge Peter Henry described the driver’s actions as “impetuous”.

He also said that it was “extremely fortuitous” that Mr Richardson was not killed or paralysed in the crash, which took place on December 15.

Prosecuting Karir, Jane Terry told the court how he was out for a Christmas meal at TGI Fridays when he and a group of friends decided to make the two-mile journey to Sprinkles in Portswood.

According to Karir’s attorney, he was in a rush to get to the dessert restaurant, which closes at midnight.

Driving a Mercedes CLK200, Karir reached The Avenue shortly before 11pm, when he was seen driving “aggressively”.

Mr Grainger, a witness, said he was tailgated by Karir, who swerved his vehicle out around a pedestrian island and onto the opposite side of the road.

At the same time, Mr Richardson, who was returning home from his studies at the University of Southampton, began to cross the road - looking right into oncoming traffic.

Karir’s car, which was still on the wrong side of the road, struck unsuspecting Mr Richardson on his left side.

Witnesses described how Mr Richardson was flung 8ft into the air like a “ragdoll”.

He suffered fractures to his arm, legs and chest, as well as a punctured lung.

Mr Richardson was kept in hospital for four weeks and underwent three operations, including a major skin graft procedure on his back.

The court heard how Mr Richardson, who was in his final year of a mechanical engineering PhD, had been severely impacted by the collision.

Although now able to walk with the use of a stick, Mr Richardson said he suffers constant fatigue and feels “nervous” around roads.

Defending Karir, Khalid Missouri, said his client was a devoted Sikh, a family man and had a promising career.

He admitted that his client had made a “terrible manoeuvre”, but otherwise was a good driver with a clean driving record.

Karir also stayed at the scene, and tested negative for alcohol or drugs.

Mr Missouri added that his client had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and had shown remorse, by regularly checking up on Mr Richardson through contact with the police.

He urged Judge Henry not to impose a custodial sentence on Karir.

The judge accepted he was remorseful but said he could not spare him from prison.

He said: “This was an impetuous and extremely dangerous manoeuvre.

“A lot of people frequently forget that when you are in a car you are in control of a weapon that can cause awful injuries.

“And still, it only takes a moment to change not only your life but the life of someone else.

“It’s fortunate that Mr Richardson was not killed and it was fortunate that he did not suffer injuries so serious that he was paralysed.

“You are a young man, full of regret. You have a good job and a promising future.

“Because of all that I’ve been urged not to send to you prison.

“But I would be failing in my public duty given the circumstances of the offence and the injuries caused to Mr Richardson if I didn’t impose an immediate custodial sentence, but I will keep it as short as possible.”

Judge Henry sentenced Karir to 28 months, reduced by four months for his remorse, and down to 16 months for his early guilty plea. Karir was disqualified from driving for 30 months.

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PICTURED: Alex (right) with friend Abik Thomas in the USA

'I THINK ABOUT THE CRASH EVERY DAY'

“I DON’T think there will ever be a day when I don’t think about it, but I feel lucky to be alive.”

Those are the inspiring words of crash victim Alex Richardson, whose life was changed forever when he took two fateful steps into what appeared to be a safe-to-cross road.

Looking to his right, the PhD student saw a chance to move into a central island on The Avenue.

But little did he know that a driver on the opposite side of the road was about to make what a judge would later describe as a “dangerous and impetuous manoeuvre”.

“It felt like a giant baseball bat had hit me in my whole left side,” said the 28-year-old.

“I remember being up in the air for a bit. But it all happened very fast.

“I was knocked out after that and woke up 20 minutes later in the road.”

Alex suffered multiple breaks, including in his arm, leg and ribs and a punctured lung.

“That was the most difficult part, feeling like I was suffocating.

“Your whole body is in shock so you can’t really feel much.

“I was just focusing on not dying – It did cross my mind.”

Despite being struck at up to 50mph, Alex miraculously survived the crash and avoided long-term paralysis.

However, a serious laceration to his back means he still struggles to walk without the help of a stick.

“Before I would be able to hike all day but I get tired after about 30 minutes now.

“It has had a massive impact on my life and my family and friends. But I’ve always been an upbeat person, so I do feel lucky to be alive.”

Alex says he holds no grudges.

“I’m not the kind of person who wants revenge. There has been talk of me meeting him in the future and that’s something I’m thinking about.”