Pregnant woman involved in horrific head on crash reveals impact of her injuries

Tanya Palmer thankfully delivered a health baby boy following the horrific crash which happened when she was 22-weeks pregnant. But 19 months on, she is still having treatment for the serious injuries she sustained when the driver ploughed into her car on Swillington Lane, Swillington.

Tanya has spoken out about her injuries and the lasting impact of the crash as part of West Yorkshire Police’s #WYPTheCost campaign which aims to highlight the cost of being convicted of a drink or drug driving offence.

Speaking about the crash she said: “When the car came around the corner on the wrong side of the road my first instincts were ‘god he’s going too quick’ and then I thought ‘I’ve got nowhere to go’. I just gripped onto the steering wheel and that’s probably one of the last things that I remember.”

Tanya was left with a serious cut to her forehead, a dislocated shoulder, a torn deltoid ligament and is still waiting for surgery on at least one of her ankles, while she is also under the care of a neurologist, as the crash has left her with speech and memory issues.

In a video released by the force, Tanya recalls the moment she asked how the driver of the vehicle was and was told by nurses he had failed to give a specimen to be tested for drugs or alcohol. The driver involved, who has not been named by police, was jailed for 12 months and banned from driving for three-and-a-half years.

Her message to anyone thinking of driving after drinking alcohol or taking drugs is a simple one. “Not ony will it have consequences for their life, but the who person they have a collision with, or they run into, it changes their life forever,” she said.

Inspector Chris Robinson, of West Yorkshire Police’s Roads Policing Unit, said: “We talk a lot about the consequences and cost for the offender because it is their behaviour that we need to change, but Tanya’s story really brings it home the impact that drink and drug driving has on other innocent road users. “If you’re someone who sometimes drives while over the limit, then I would ask you to think how you would feel if you were involved in a collision with someone like Tanya.

“You might think you are fine to drive or ride your motorcycle after a few pints or taking drugs, but every day we are arresting people with exactly the same mindset.

“Please plan ahead this Christmas and rather than driving or riding your motorcycle, find alternative transport. If your plans change then consider how you will get home. The small inconvenience of having to collect your vehicle the next day far outweighs being arrested and facing a conviction for a drink or drug driving offence.”

West Yorkshire Police’s operation started on November 20 and runs until January 1. During last year’s campaign – which ran from 1 December, 2021, to 1 January, 2022, there were 221 arrests for drink driving, 95 arrests for drug driving and 19 arrests for failing to provide a sample.