SYSTEMS manager Peter Smith who overtook three cars on a blind bend and crashed head-on into an on-coming car, has been fined £1,200 and banned from driving for 18 months after admitting driving dangerously.

On Friday, at Salisbury Crown Court, Smith, 38, of Monkton Park, Chippenham, who admitted he overtook in a moment of madness, was still walking with the aid of a stick after spending four months in hospital following the accident.

But Sally Watson, the woman who was driving the car Smith collided with, says the sentence is light compared with the trauma suffered by her and her family.

Mrs Watson, 55, of Foxham, near Chippenham, has been left severely disabled by the accident and says her quality of life has dramatically changed for the worse.

She was driving home from work on March 14 to celebrate her birthday with her family when her car was hit by Smith's as he rounded the last of a series of blind bends at Hackpen Hill between Marlborough and Broad Hinton.

Having just been promoted at Hills Property Limited in Marlborough, Mrs Watson was rebuilding her life after being successfully treated for breast cancer the year before.

She recalled the split second that she saw the vehicle coming towards her on the wrong side of the road as terrifying.

She said Smith's Peugeot glanced off a Volvo, the last of three cars, in a single overtaking manoeuvre.

A few seconds later, Mrs Watson's car was shunted up a steep bank and through a fence.

"I remember looking out of the smashed car window when the car had stopped and seeing petrol on the road," she said. "All I could think about was getting out in case the car blew up."

Passing motorists, some of whom had witnessed the crash, came to Mrs. Watson's aid and got her out of the vehicle.

The engine of her Mazda 323 was forced back into the car, trapping her by the feet and lacerating her legs.

In shock and a great deal of pain, Mrs. Watson was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital for an emergency operation, to be followed by a second operation for reconstruction work on her badly-smashed feet.

Mrs Watson's husband Rob, and their children, Mary, 19, and Edward, 17, were at home preparing a birthday meal for her, when they were notified of the accident by a phone call from one of the drivers Smith had overtaken.

"As soon as the lady mentioned the air ambulance we knew it was serious," said Edward. "We went to PMH to wait for her to be brought in about an hour later.

"Her legs were in an awful state. It was such a pity as she had been through so much with the cancer."

"To see her in hospital again through no fault of her own, was very distressing for all of us," added Mr Watson.

In a second operation, surgeons inserted pins and a plate into one foot, but little could be done for other as the heel had been so badly shattered by the impact.

After two weeks in hospital, she was allowed to return home with instructions to keep her feet elevated, with no downward pressure for 12 weeks. "We are eternally grateful to our neighbours Bill and Elspeth Norman, for making available their garden flat which had been purpose-built for a disabled person to live in." said Mr Watson.

"She was not able to return to work and I soon realised I would have to stop work as well to care for her,"

Following months of intensive physiotherapy to get her walking again Mrs Watson was to suffer another crushing blow.

Increasing pain, particularly in her back and hip, prevented her from walking, and she was taken to Guys Hospital in London by ambulance where she saw oncologist, Prof Ian Fentiman and tests revealed secondary cancer in her bones.

"We couldn't believe it after all that had happened to her, this was the cruellest blow," said Mr Watson.

While still recovering from her accident and unable to walk, Mrs Watson started radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment.

"We have been told there is no cure and we can only hope for remission," said Mr Watson.

Sentencing Smith, Recorder Peter Barrie told him. "This was completely crazy driving, a moment of madness.

Mr Watson said: "The past year has been hell for my wife. She has gone from being an active working mum and wife, to losing her health and her job.

"We hope this article will serve to remind other drivers to take more care and drive with consideration, and to anticipate potential dangers, especially on country roads."