This is the horrific moment a tired driver falls asleep at the wheel after an all night mountain trek and smashes into a cyclist.
Jake Tomkinson, 28, drifted onto the wrong side of the road at speed in Conwy Valley, north Wales, smashed into Gareth Evans, 34, who was cycling the other way, and sent him flying into the air.
Mr Evans had to be airlifted to hospital and spent time in intensive care after sustaining 22 injuries including a punctured and bruised lung, four broken ribs, a broken eye socket and collarbone, and two broken toes.
He still suffers post traumatic amnesia, and has lost his sense of smell and taste.
Tomkinson pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was jailed for 12 months over the collision in June.
This is the horrific moment a tired driver falls asleep at the wheel after an all night mountain trek and smashes into a cyclist
Mr Evans had to be airlifted to hospital and spent time in intensive care after sustaining 22 injuries including a punctured and bruised lung, four broken ribs, a broken eye socket and collarbone, and two broken toes
He was also banned from driving for two and a half years and must take an extended re-test.
Tomkinson had taken a 30-strong party for an overnight trek on Snowdon and was within a few miles of his home when the crash happened.
The trek had lasted from midnight to 6.30am, and the evening before Tomkinson had only had five and a half hours sleep.
After breakfast, he set off from Llanberis for home in his girlfriend’s yellow VW Polo, but knew he was tired, the court heard.
Judge David Hale, sitting at Caernarfon Crown Court yesterday, said Tomkinson had already stopped twice and knew he was tired.
But Mr Evans, a father of one, said: ‘He fell asleep, it was an accident. I have no idea if the guy that did this to me is a good guy or not, but him going to jail doesn’t really make me feel any better.
‘It means his life will be ruined as he’ll have a criminal record. I’m surprised he got a year, but I think the judge must have been shocked by the footage of the accident.’
Builder Mr Evans, of Colwyn Bay, has been unable to work since the crash as tendons in his arms are damaged.
Jake Tomkinson (left), 28, drifted onto the wrong side of the road at speed in Conwy Valley, north Wales, smashed into Gareth Evans (right), 34, who was cycling the other way, and sent him flying into the air
‘I’m having an operation to pin my collarbone. I honestly don’t think I’ll be able to work this year,’ he added.
‘My life is shattered, and I’m in pain every day. But as a cyclist you can cope with pain and I’m getting used to it. Whenever I feel sorry for myself, I just tell myself I could have ended up in a wheelchair or dead.’
Investigating officer PC Einion Huws said: ‘The manner of Tomkinson’s driving was reckless and irresponsible and it is only by pure luck that we did not investigate this as a fatal collision.
‘This collision was entirely preventable and shows what the consequences can be when drivers are not concentrating whilst tired. I would urge all motorists to adhere to the warning that tiredness can kill.’