A shocking incident in Mountain Ash has left 21-year-old Declan Mahoney with serious injuries and PTSD after being hit by a car while playing rugby with friends. On July 3rd last year, 19-year-old Lexi Dyas, an aspiring nurse, swerved her Fiat 500 into Mahoney at a train station car park. The collision resulted in multiple injuries for Mahoney, including fractures and wounds, requiring treatment at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital.
In court, Dyas claimed the crash was an accident due to a lapse in concentration while chatting with a friend. However, the prosecution questioned this, as Mahoney attempted to get out of the way, but she swerved directly into him. Despite pleading guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, Dyas denied deliberate intent.
Mahoney shared in court how the incident has deeply affected his life, leaving him with anxiety and a diagnosis of PTSD. He mentioned the physical and emotional scars he continues to endure. Despite Dyas expressing remorse, the judge sentenced her to 18 months in a young offenders institute and disqualified her from driving for over two years. Both Dyas and her family were emotional as the sentence was delivered, reflecting on the gravitas of the incident. This case serves as a somber reminder of the consequences of reckless driving.