A teenage girl from Wales was forced to have her toe amputated after an Uber driver ran over her foot.
Mohamed Omararbab, 54, from Swansea, was driving along Neath Abbey Road on April 16, 2023, when he drove through a red light.
The driver proceeded to run over the teenage girl’s foot who was crossing the road at the time, causing her to fall to the ground.
She was taken to Morriston Hospital for injuries to two toes on her right foot. The teenager underwent two operations to try and save her toes, but one had to be amputated.
An Uber driver ran over a teenage girl's foot, causing her to getting her toe amputated
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Omararbab, who had a takeaway delivery bag in his car at the time, was due to deliver food at 6.50pm that evening - the time of the collision.
Appearing at Swansea Crown Court on April 8, he pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by careless driving and driving without insurance on account of him not having business insurance at the time of the collision.
The girl said she was “very conscious that she has a missing toe”, a victim personal statement said.
She now also gets anxious when travelling in cars and tries to avoid crossing roads where she can, Prosecution barrister Georgia Donohue told the court.
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Hywel Davies, defence, said the 54-year-old was not driving at an excessive speed and has expressed remorse for the situation.
He added that Omararbab had made attempts to apologise to the victim.
Davies maintained that his client “can be rehabilitated from within the community” and that he is “willing and eager” to pay compensation.
Judge Geraint Walters addressed Omararbab in court and said: “Going over a pedestrian crossing and hitting a pedestrian is plainly dangerous driving, not merely careless.
The Uber driver was given a six-month suspended sentence and banned from driving for 12 months
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“You were carrying out some work as an Uber driver delivering food. You had a delivery to make. You obviously were not paying attention as you should have been.
“You caused her (the victim) significant injury. You drove over her foot which ultimately led to a surgery team having to remove her toe.”
He was given a six-month suspended sentence and banned from driving for 12 months.
The Uber driver also must carry out 50 hours of unpaid work and was ordered to pay £3,000 in compensation to his victim in instalments of £40 a month.