Dreams shattered for Warwickshire army engineer after head-on crash - The Stratford Observer

Dreams shattered for Warwickshire army engineer after head-on crash

Stratford Editorial 26th Nov, 2017   0

A YOUNG army engineer’s dreams have been shattered after a ‘nightmare’ head-on car crash.

Jack Childs Watson told the Observer about his battle to overcome life-changing injuries he suffered when two cars smashed into the car he was in as they tried to overtake a lorry and a coach on the A423 near Princethorpe.

The 20-year-old suffered fractured eye sockets, loss of sight in his left eye, fractured cheekbones, multiple leg fractures, a ruptured spleen and a lacerated liver in the crash a year ago.

He also sustained a fracture to each of his ribs, a fracture to his right wrist, a partially collapsed lung, and a broken pelvis.




Jack, who realised a life-long ambition when he signed up to become a vehicle mechanic in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in January 2016, now faces having to abandon his dream as it is likely he will be discharged from The Army.

He said: “It was always my dream to join The Army and travel the world. The fact I will likely have to be medically discharged has been really difficult to come to terms with.


“A bad decision taken by others in a split-second has turned my life upside down.”

He is now urging reckless drivers to think about the consequences of their actions.

Jack, who lives near Rugby, said: “The whole experience has been a nightmare. I like to be active and being in The Army was a dream come true, but it is like someone has pressed the stop button now and I am trying to come to terms with what happened.

“Unfortunately I know all too well the devastating impact that dangerous driving can have. My aspirations for a career in The Army will never be realised because of this.

“My life has been changed forever because of the reckless actions of other motorists. I hope my experience will highlight the need for concentration and safety on the road.”

Jack was a front seat passenger in a friend’s car when, without warning, two drivers pulled out to overtake a coach and lorry as they approached the brow of a hill.

The two drivers were jailed after they pleaded guilty to dangerous driving charges.

Since the accident Jack has undergone surgery to fix his right eye socket, as well as surgery on both cheekbones, his wrist and a fracture to his left foot from which there is no guarantee of success. He has been warned there is an increased risk to his vision in his right eye, and that further surgery will likely be needed to help his recovery.

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