THIS is the shocking moment a drunk driver smashed head-on into an oncoming car – leaving a woman pinned to the side of a bridge.  

Nadine Wood, 48, was left with a fractured spine and pelvis following the incident on Halfpenny Bridge, in Lechlade, Gloucester last May.

She was hit by drink-driver Loic Freeman, 26, who ran a red light and crashed into another car before fleeing the scene.

He had reportedly been drinking all day with friends and family and was later found to be four times over the the legal limit.

In August, Freeman, of Bullinghope, Hereford, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving at Gloucester Crown Court.  

He was jailed for two and a half years and was also banned from driving for three-and a half years.

After the incident, Mrs Wood, an English Language lecturer for the Ministry of Defence, described how she thought "was going to die."

According to MailOnline, she had initially met up with friends on the bridge, just a short walk from her home, as part of a stargazing event.

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But just 15 minutes later she was struck in the horrific crash. Footage from the event was later shared in court.

Mrs Wood said: “A car sped onto the bridge from the left. But then I looked to my right and saw another car coming towards the bridge too.

"It was a traffic lighted bridge so I immediately knew they were going to crash. Terrified, I turned around to face the river."

As two cars crashed head on, Mrs Wood was helplessly left pinned against the wall of the bridge.

She recounted: "I felt a searing, burning pain. I began screaming in agony. Soon, I felt like I couldn't breathe. Then everything went black."

HORROR SMASH

After the culprit fled the scene, desperate witnesses managed to move the cars back to release the teacher from the wall.

She was rushed to the Jon Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford where she was later taken into theatre.

It was only during the hours to follow that doctors prepared her for the worst.

Mrs Wood said: "Surgeons told me they needed to operate but warned me that I might not be able to walk again.

“Days later, I was taken into theatre where they spent hours inserting metal pins into my pelvis to hold it into place.

“It was a success but afterwards, more tests showed I'd developed life-threatening blood clots on my lungs.

“I was absolutely devastated and still in shock. My body was also in crippling agony."

Following treatment Nadine received treatment for her infection and was later discharged from hospital.

“I kept replaying the crash in my mind and couldn't stop crying,

However, the crash had rendered her “broken” and “helpless” as she relied on the help of others to fulfil day to day chores.

"For weeks I dreaded falling asleep in case I didn't wake up,” she said.

In July 2020, the driver was arrested as details emerged of his "sickening” actions.

Since the incident took place, Mrs Wood has learned to walk again but said she was still fighting nerve damage and constant pain in her lower back and pelvis.

She suggested Freeman "should be banned from driving for life” before issuing a timely warning to others.

She said: “That night, I thought I was going to die. The drink-driver was nearly four times the limit and he nearly left me paralysed.

“I hope my story is a lesson for others who consider getting behind the wheel after a few drinks this Christmas and New Year's Eve.

“So please, if you've had a drink, leave your car. You're not only putting your life at risk, but so many others.”

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