Passenger Who Suffers Injuries Including Spinal Fractures And Fractured Pelvis Asks Lawyers To Help Her Access Specialist Rehab

A woman has revealed the “life-sentence” she’s been left to face after being seriously injured in a high-speed crash in which her best friend was killed. 

Imogen Rowland suffered multiple life-changing injuries, including spinal fractures and a fractured pelvis, when the VW Golf she was a passenger in crashed into a wall in Belton, North Lincolnshire.  

Her best friend, 25-year-old Natasha Woroch, who was sat next to Imogen in the back seat of the car, was pronounced dead at the scene. A third passenger was also seriously injured.

Imogen asks serious injury lawyers to help her access specialist rehabilitation

Following the collision, Imogen, aged 25, of Epworth, North Lincolnshire, instructed expert serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help her access the specialist support and rehabilitation she requires.

Imogen has now spoken for the first time about how the crash has changed her life and the “immense mental and physical pain” she suffers. She has joined her legal team in issuing a road safety warning.

It comes after the driver of the Golf was jailed. Grimsby Crown Court was told that the driver had been travelling at above 80mph when he hit a kerb before the car ploughed into a lamppost and garden wall. 

Serious injury lawyer's road safety warning

Claire Pilsworth is the expert serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, representing Imogen.

Expert Opinion

“The last year and trying to come to terms with the physical and mental impact of the collision has been incredibly difficult for Imogen.

“She not only suffered extremely serious injuries which still affect her but has also endured the trauma of losing her best friend.

“This incident vividly highlights the devastating consequences of what can happen because of the dangerous actions of those who break the law.

“While nothing can ever make up for what Imogen has been through we’re determined to support her so she can access the ongoing rehabilitation she requires.

“In the meantime, we hope the sentence acts as a deterrent and reminds motorists to think about the consequences of their actions, so the number of people killed or badly injured on our roads reduces.” Claire Pilsworth

Serious injury: Epworth woman Imogen Rowland's story

Imogen and Natasha were returning from a night out when the incident happened on the A161 Belton High Street in the early hours of 8 July last year. 

As well as spinal fractures and a fractured pelvis, Imogen also suffered multiple injuries including a, fractured left elbow, foot fractures, fractured ribs and collapsed left lung and haematoma as well as degloving injury where skin was ripped from her left thigh. 

She spent nearly two weeks in hospital and had to undergo several operations including to insert metal plates and screws in her pelvis and elbow as well as wash out and remove tissue from her thigh.

Once home she had to be cared for by her family. 

Imogen still continues to suffer with symptoms, including pain and mobility problems. 

Imogen reveals affect Belton collision has had on her life

She said: “What happened that night wasn’t an accident; it was the driver’s choice to drive so dangerously. When he started driving erratically, we were frightened. We asked him to slow down but he ignored us. 

“I don’t remember the impact of the collision or afterwards due to being unconscious, but it was horrifying to hear in court the details of how the driver behaved after killing my best friend. 

“He decided to search Tash’s body for a watch he’d given her as a present, even going as far as shining his phone torch on her. He made zero attempts to help her. 

“The last year has been the hardest of my life. I’ve had to try and cope with the trauma of my injuries and how I’ve gone from an independent and outgoing person to someone a lot more reserved and reliant on others.   

“Losing my best friend has been so difficult.  Tash will never get to grow old; she will never get to experience excelling in her career; she will never get to experience falling in love, getting married, and having a family of her own which I know she dreamed of. She would have made the best mum. 

“She will never get to celebrate another birthday, eat her favourite food, sing her favourite songs, cuddle her family or dance and laugh with her best friends.

“What happened is a complete waste of a beautiful life. Life without Tash feels like there is no colour, everything feels grey. I think about her every single moment of every day, what our lives could have been together, our bond was irreplaceable, and she was truly one in a million. 

“My entire outlook on life has now changed and I’m riddled with immense mental and physical pain at every single moment. I’m exhausted at the simplest tasks and I have no idea when or if I will feel better. 

“The physical pain may subside and despite my long list of horrific injuries and ongoing problems I’m having, it’s incomparable to the mental wound of losing my best friend. 

“It’s so painful to contemplate the future in a world without Tash and where I don’t know if I’ll ever feel like I’m not living in a stranger’s body again. I so desperately want my old life back and the realisation that may not be a possibility is sometimes too much to bear. 

“No sentence will ever compare to the life sentence we’ve received.”

The driver, of the Golf, Connor Malpass, aged 25, of Rectory Gardens, Doncaster, was jailed 10-and-a-half years at Grimsby Crown Court for causing death by dangerous driving and to three years and four months each for two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, with the sentences to run concurrently.

He had previously pleaded guilty to the offences. It is expected he will serve seven years because of his guilty plea.

Additionally, he was disqualified from driving for 17 years and must take an extended retest before he can apply for a licence.

Find out more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in supporting people affected by road collisions at our dedicated road traffic accidents section. Alternatively, to speak to an expert contact us or call 0370 1500 100.