Grandmother Banned From Driving After Car Crashed Into Nursery and Trapped Toddler Under Wheel

A two-year-old boy was pinned between a car's front wheel and a brick wall after a grandmother drove through a nursery fence and into a playground in Ellesmere Port, a court has heard. The driver, 63-year-old Jayne James, has now been banned from driving for two years.

James admitted dangerous driving at Chester Magistrates' Court. She pleaded guilty on Wednesday 26 August and was sentenced on Thursday 24 September.

James was also sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 12 months. Three children were taken to hospital after the collision on Tuesday 16 June. All were later discharged with minor injuries, Cheshire Police said.

Car Ploughs Through Fence Into Packed Playground

According to police, James, from Knottingley Drive in Great Sutton, had been driving her Omoda, an automatic vehicle, for several months before the crash.

The car moved forward at pace after she entered the nursery car park. It collided with a wooden fence separating the car park from the playground and continued into the play area, where 22 children aged between two and three were playing.

The two-year-old boy was pinned between the front wheel and a brick wall. He suffered a considerable friction burn to his torso, which police believed was caused by the still-moving wheel. He was among three children taken to hospital.

The BBC reported that James had been dropping her granddaughter off at the nursery at the time of the collision.

Police, firefighters and ambulance crews attended. Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service said two fire engines were sent to the scene to free the trapped child and make the area safe.

Local dentist Dr Dario Sales, who was working at the nearby Whitby Dental & Implant Clinic, told the BBC that he and two colleagues climbed over a fence to help staff after hearing children screaming. He said they went into the playground to assist with first aid and to help calm those present.

James was arrested at the scene and taken into custody. She told officers she could not remember specific details of how the collision happened.

Driver Claims Sudden Acceleration Feature

In interview, James said she believed the Omoda had a feature that could cause it to accelerate if a certain pedal was pressed while it was stationary. She suggested this might have caused the car to move forward as she attempted to park.

Officers examined the car and found no mechanical fault that could have caused or contributed to the collision, police said. No defects were identified with the braking or acceleration systems.

The court heard that James had no clear explanation for why she lost control of the vehicle in the car park. She told officers she could not recall the sequence of events leading up to the impact with the fence and the wall.

Magistrates imposed a two-year driving ban after hearing details of how close the collision came to causing more serious injuries in a play area containing 22 young children. The court was told that James had cooperated with the investigation and entered a guilty plea at the earliest opportunity.

Police Warn of Lasting Impact on Toddlers

Detective Sergeant Amy Hollis of Cheshire Police said James's inability to control the vehicle had put the lives of all 22 children in the playground 'at serious risk'.

She said she was 'very glad' the injured children had been discharged from hospital and had since made a full physical recovery.

However, police said the emotional and psychological impact of the collision on the children and their families was likely to have a lasting effect, and that support was continuing. Parents and nursery staff have been offered access to specialist services.

Ms Hollis praised nursery staff and the emergency services for their response. She said their actions helped prevent further injuries and ensured the scene was managed safely until all children were accounted for.

Cheshire Police said the case highlighted the potential consequences of losing control of a vehicle in busy areas such as school and nursery car parks. Officers urged motorists to take extra care when manoeuvring near children and to ensure they are familiar with their vehicle's controls.