Daniel Halliwell, a 35-year-old Ferrari driver from Earlestown, was sentenced to 32 months in prison after pleading guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving following a horrific car crash that left a newborn baby with life-changing and irreversible brain injuries. The devastating incident occurred on July 21, 2023, on the A558 Daresbury Expressway in Sandymoor, when Halliwell’s Ferrari 812 GTS crashed into a Ford Fiesta carrying a mother and her three-week-old baby at around 5pm.
Prosecuting, Thomas McLoughlin described the incident as a result of Halliwell’s “extremely manner of driving” which led him to lose control of the Ferrari after making an “extensive manoeuvre” to avoid another vehicle on the road. McLoughlin stated that Halliwell was travelling at an “extreme speed” in his Ferrari when he approached the slip road, where the Ford Fiesta driven by the baby’s mother was merging onto the carriageway. A BMW driver who was travelling in the opposite direction moved over to allow the Ford Fiesta to join the road, but Halliwell failed to take this into account and continued speeding down the dual carriageway.
According to the prosecution, the BMW driver had done what any responsible driver would do in the situation, moving to the right to allow other vehicles to join the carriageway. However, Halliwell, who was driving his new Ferrari at an alarming speed, gave no thought to the fact that there were other vehicles around, including the BMW driver who had moved out of the way, and failed to take control of his vehicle, ultimately crashing into the Ford Fiesta.
The court heard how Halliwell’s actions that day were nothing short of reckless and selfish, with the judge describing his driving as “ridiculously fast” and stating that he had shown a complete disregard for the safety of others on the road. The judge also noted that Halliwell had no previous convictions but had six penalty points on his license, including three for speeding on the same stretch of road in the Daresbury Expressway.
The dashcam footage captured by a HGV driving behind the vehicles involved in the crash showed the extent of the damage caused by the collision. The footage revealed tyre marks across the carriageway and debris from the crash, including a tyre from the Ferrari and an exhaust.
The baby, who was just three weeks old at the time of the crash, suffered bleeding to all parts of his brain and was stabilised at Whiston Hospital before being transferred to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital where he was put into an induced coma. The baby has been left with catastrophic injuries which will require ongoing care and treatment for the rest of his life, and his mother has been left with severe emotional and psychological harm as a result of the incident.
A victim impact statement from the baby’s mother was read to the court, describing the traumatic effect of the crash on her and her family. She stated that before the crash, she had been feeling happy, healthy, and perfect after the birth of her baby, but the incident changed everything. She described how the crash had left her baby with life-changing and irreversible injuries, and that he requires specialist equipment and ongoing care that is not provided on the NHS.
The mother also spoke about the emotional toll of the incident on her, stating that she has lost her social and personal life and can no longer feel confident driving or taking her children out. She has had to adapt her entire lifestyle to care for her baby, and has had to bring professionals to her home to teach her how to respond to his unique needs.
The court also heard that the baby’s growth and development has been severely impacted by the crash, and that he has not achieved the milestones that would be expected of a child of his age. He requires specialist equipment, some of which is not provided on the NHS and is extremely expensive. Eventually, the family will have to move into a home suitable for the baby’s needs, and the mother will have to get a car that is wheelchair accessible and can carry specialist equipment.
The defence, represented by Sophia Dower, argued that Halliwell was not a habitual offender and had no previous convictions. However, the judge was not convinced by this argument, stating that Halliwell’s previous speeding offence in the same area should have served as a warning to him about the dangers of reckless driving.
Defending, Sophia Dower expressed how sorry Halliwell was for his actions and stated that he recognised the devastating impact his driving had on the baby and his family. She said that Halliwell’s wife described the realisation of his actions as having left him “inconsolable” and that he has struggled with his “thoughts and demons” since the incident.
Dower also spoke about Halliwell’s charity work and his successful business, 24/7 Technology, where he is a hardworking man who is highly regarded by others. However, despite his good character, the judge remained unimpressed by the defence’s arguments and sentenced Halliwell to 32 months in prison.
Halliwell was also disqualified from driving for five years, with an extension period of 18 months, and was ordered to pay a fine and costs for his reckless driving. The judge described the incident as “astonishingly devastating” and stated that the baby’s mother would never have the natural motherhood that she had envisioned for her child.
The judge’s statement highlighted the catastrophic consequences of Halliwell’s actions on that day, causing irreversible damage to the baby’s life and leaving his mother with severe emotional and psychological harm. The judge stated that it was a miracle that no one died in the incident and praised the bravery of the baby’s mother in sharing her victim impact statement with the court.
In conclusion, the case of Daniel Halliwell serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of reckless and selfish driving. The judge’s statement was clear and unequivocal – Halliwell’s actions on that day were a result of his own arrogance and disregard for the safety of others on the road, and he must face the consequences of his actions. The baby and his family will require ongoing support and care for the rest of their lives, and Halliwell’s sentence is a small but necessary step towards justice for those affected by his reckless driving.
The incident on the Daresbury Expressway will forever be remembered as a tragic reminder of the devastating consequences of speeding and reckless driving. The community will be left to grapple with the aftermath of the incident, and Halliwell’s actions will serve as a stark warning to others about the dangers of driving at extreme speeds and showing a complete disregard for the safety of others on the road.