Paralysed hit-and-run victim heartbroken about not being able to hold new grandchild (From News Shopper)

Paralysed hit-and-run victim heartbroken about not being able to hold new grandchild

3:39pm Monday 25th June 2012 in Crime By Robert Fisk

A GRANDMOTHER left paralysed after being run over in Bromley town centre has spoken of her heartbreak at never being able to hold her new grandchild.

Carol Bright, who has two children and four grandchildren, suffered catastrophic injuries when she was knocked down by a van as it reversed in Churchill Way in September 2010, leaving her paralysed from the neck down.

The 59-year-old, from West Wickham, spent 14 months at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital at Stanmore in north London before moving into a specially adapted bungalow.

She requires 24 hour a day care and has just won a multi-million pound settlement to provide her with lifelong support.

Mrs Bright, who can only move her head and is wheelchair reliant said: "It is 21 months since I was knocked over and I still find it very hard to come to terms with what has happened.

"My life changed so suddenly and it has had a devastating impact on my family as well as me.

"I loved being a grandmother and playing with my grandchildren but I can no longer enjoy any of the activities we used to do.

"It is still very hard.

"I am about to be a grandmother again and it is heartbreaking that I will not be able to hold my new grandchild."

Police are still appealing for information about Alexander Abimbola, the man suspected of being the driver of the Mercedes van.

He is wanted in connection with an allegation of dangerous driving and insurance offences after he failed to answer police bail.

Mrs Bright added: "I hope now the police catch the man that left me like this and that he will finally be brought before the criminal courts.

"He’s a coward for running away.

"I’m just thankful I have the support of a loving, caring family who have helped to get me through this."

The multi-million pound settlement was won for her by specialist road traffic injury lawyer Stephanie Clarke, from Irwin Mitchell law firm, who said: "Carol suffered these injuries through no fault of her own and to make matters worse, the person responsible has still not been brought to justice.

"Abimbola had given fraudulent details to his car insurance company which meant a settlement could not be claimed through them which is the usual process with cases such as this.

"The Motors Insurance Bureau step in under these circumstances and we worked swiftly with them to ensure Carol had access to the support services she needed as quickly as possible."