Carer, who left motorcyclist lying in A19, is handed driving ban

Mother-to-be community carer, 20, who left motorcyclist, 26, lying in the middle of the road after a ‘horrendous’ hit and run crash is handed a 20-week suspended sentence and 12-month driving ban

• Megan Soakell, 20, left motorcyclist lying in middle of A19 dual carriageway  
• The expectant mother claimed she hit ‘debris’ on the road and failed to call 999
• She was found guilty of driving without due care and attention and failing to stop after the accident 
• The 26-year-old victim is now waiting to find out if he needs a hip replacement  

A pregnant mum-to-be who left a motorcyclist lying in the middle of a busy dual carriageway following a ‘horrendous’ hit-and-run, has been handed a 20-week suspended sentence.

Megan Soakell, 20, from Bowburn, County Durham, crashed into the 26-year old biker back in January on the A19 – but insisted she had hit ‘debris’ on the road.

The community carer – who was 19 at the time of the incident – failed to call the emergency services to the scene and instead phoned breakdown recovery after realising her red Seat Ibiza was damaged.

The motorcyclist ‘recalls flying through the air’ and has flashbacks of how he could have been ‘struck by a lorry and killed’ on January 22.

Megan Soakell, 20 (pictured), from County Durham, crashed into the 26-year old motorcyclist back in January on the busy A19 – but insisted she had hit ‘debris’ on the road

Ms Soakell (above) previously appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court and denied driving without due care and attention and failing to stop after an accident

The Middlesbrough court heard how the motorcyclist was ‘left lying on the floor’ on the A19 (above) and was ‘very worried about lorries coming towards him’ as he was wearing dark clothing

Ms Soakell previously appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court and denied driving without due care and attention and failing to stop after an accident.

However, she stood trial earlier this month and was found guilty of both offences. 

The expectant mother appeared in court for sentencing on Thursday.             

Prosecutor Rachel Butt told how the incident occurred just after 9pm when the male motorcyclist, who was riding a black superlight 125, was travelling on the A19.

Ms Soakell ‘veered’ into the lane of the motorbike and ‘collided with him’.

The teenager’s car was left with ‘severe damage’ on the left-hand side but she thought she had hit ‘debris’ in the road.

However, she didn’t stop and pulled off at the next junction to call for breakdown recovery.

The Middlesbrough court heard how the motorcyclist was ‘left lying on the floor’ and was ‘very worried about lorries coming towards him’ as he was wearing dark clothing.

Ms Butt told how the victim felt that he was ‘lucky a car or lorry didn’t drive over him’.

He was taken to James Cook University Hospital by the ambulance service by ‘sheer luck’ after a car, with two nurses, stopped at the scene.

The victim remained in hospital for two weeks after suffering major injuries including a dislocated hip, multiple fractures in his wrist as well as a number of small injuries.

He required surgery to repair his hip and wrist – and is now waiting to find out if he needs a hip replacement.

The prosecutor said he is still ‘suffering a lot of pain’ and has restricted mobility since the smash.

The victim is also having ‘flashbacks’ and ‘recalls flying through the air’ and was lucky he wasn’t ‘struck by a lorry and killed’.

Ms Butt added that Ms Soakell, previously from Easington lane, Houghton-le-Spring, has no previous convictions and stated the Crown Prosecution Service would not be applying for compensation as it is being dealt with by insurance companies.

Paul McAlindon, mitigating, told how Ms Soakell had a witness to ‘support her account’ but they were awaiting covid-19 test results on the day of trial and the trial went ahead in their absence.

He described the expecting mother as a ‘young lady who has never been in trouble before’ and has ‘lost her good character’.

Mr McAlindon told the district judge how the defendant is a full-time community carer, covering the whole of the Durham area, and has worked throughout the pandemic.

The ‘busy young woman’ is also due to give birth in January.

The defence solicitor stated that Ms Soakell’s driving licence is ‘essential’ for her job and asked for her licence to be endorsed with points, rather than a disqualification, so she can continue to work.

Mr McAlindon said it is a ‘horrendous offence’ but stated that Ms Soakell is at ‘low risk of reoffending’.

District Judge Marie Mallon said the motorcyclist was ‘exceedingly lucky’ and ‘far worse could have arisen’.

She handed Ms Soakell a 20 week jail sentence, suspended for 18 months. 

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