THIS is the shocking moment a 35-year-old mum ran a red light before smashing into a police car and sending it up in flames.
CCTV footage shows Stacie Wright’s white Mercedes-Benz A-Class plough into the squad car after she ignored a red light in Birkenhead, Merseyside.
Wright, 35, was seen on video beginning to turn right directly into the path of the police vehicle before the two collide.
Within seconds, flames can be seen erupting from beneath the bonnet of the police car.
Wright, of Rock Ferry, Merseyside, has now been handed an eight-month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months.
The mum was driving at around 11.15pm on November 12 when she crossed a junction despite the traffic lights having been red for up to eight seconds, Liverpool Crown Court heard.
At the same moment, a police car with its blue lights flashing was travelling through a green light on Watson Street.
The impact sparked an immediate fire in the front of the police car, a court heard.
Meanwhile the officer inside suffered injuries and was left traumatised by the crash.
The £15,000 police vehicle was destroyed in the crash and written off, with a further £2,500 in salvage costs.
In a victim personal statement read to the court, Constable Thompson described the aftermath.
He said: “I suffered cuts to my face and bruising, as well as tinnitus and pain to my ribs which took two months to heal.
“I’m struggling to sleep as I cannot get comfortable due to my injuries, causing difficulties with my relationship.
“The fact my vehicle was actually on fire was terrifying. Such is the burden on me to put others first, my first thought was to get out and check on the driver.
“Had I been going one or two miles per hour faster, I could have killed someone.
“How close I was to losing everything due to the actions of someone else.”
Constable Thompson continued: “Every time I close my eyes to go to sleep I still see the flames coming up the bonnet and the smoke filling up my lungs.
“My 12-year-old has additional needs and she is still recovering from being woken in the night to be told what had happened.
“Even six months on, she still makes passing remarks about the crash.”
The officer also said he had been left in “extreme pain”, had to take time off work and missed training opportunities, causing “financial difficulties”.
Defending, Mr Hunt said Wright, a “hardworking” single mother and hairdresser, was “genuinely remorseful” and described the collision as a “moment of inattention”.
Sentencing, Charles Wood, Head of the Bench, said the CCTV showed Wright had committed “the most serious offence” under the sentencing guidelines.
He said: “The CCTV footage is very clear, and having seen it we determine this is a category A1 offence, the most serious offence.
“The traffic light you went through was red for a significant period of time, as much as eight seconds. Clearly, a lot of inattention on your behalf.
“Nine times out of ten this wouldn’t happen, but it’s precisely because of the possible consequences that we have such things in place.