Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Police hunt driver who deliberately splashed family – but what does the law say?

One of the children soaked in Swadlincote, Derbyshire was in a pushchair

Barney Davis
Sunday 07 January 2024 15:15 GMT
Comments
Hearthcote Road in Swadlincote, Derbyshire
Hearthcote Road in Swadlincote, Derbyshire (Google Maps)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Police are hunting a driver who sped through a large puddle drenching a family with disabled children from “top to toe”.

The family of five, including children, eight and 10 and a baby in a pushchair, were completely soaked by the “unbelievably callous” driver as they walked along Hearthcote Road in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, on Tuesday.

The irate mother said the family with children, some of whom have physical disabilities, were walking along the pavement when a white car came towards them at around 2pm.

Realising what was about to happen, she gestured at the driver to stop with her hand but claimed the car “sped up” soaking them all in the murky street water.

She told The Telegraph: “My son is 6ft tall and he was drenched. The water went right over his head.

“My two-year-old granddaughter was screaming ‘I don’t like it’. The pushchair was wet through.”

Derbyshire Police have appealed to the public for any information to help trace the driver.

According to the Road Traffic Act 1988, a person may be charged with the offence of “careless and inconsiderate driving” if they drive “a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or other public place without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road or place”.

Drivers can be landed with fines up to £5,000 and nine penalty points on the licence.

In 2018 a woman in her 90s died after falling over when she was splashed by cars driving through a puddle.

Hilda Moore, 95, was taken to hospital with a head wound after she collapsed on the pavement in the Lincolnshire town of Sleaford.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in