Shocking video footage captured the moment a mother ran a red light and collided with a police car, causing it to catch fire. Stacie Wright, 35, drove her white Mercedes-Benz A-Class into the police vehicle after disregarding a red light in Merseyside’s Birkenhead. Flames erupted from under the police car’s bonnet immediately after the crash.

During the court hearing at Liverpool Crown Court, it was revealed that Wright, a hairdresser, entered the junction despite the traffic lights being red for up to eight seconds. Simultaneously, a police car with its blue lights flashing was passing through a green light on Watson Street.

CCTV footage presented in court depicted Wright making a right turn directly into the path of the police car before the collision occurred. Prosecutor Nathan Cooper emphasized that the footage clearly illustrated the sequence of events.

The police vehicle, valued at £15,000, was completely wrecked in the accident and deemed a write-off, incurring salvage costs of £2,500. Constable Thompson, the driver of the police car, described the collision as “terrifying.”

In a victim impact statement read in court, Constable Thompson detailed his injuries, including cuts to his face, bruising, tinnitus, and rib pain that took two months to heal. He expressed the psychological impact of the incident, mentioning sleep difficulties and the distress caused to his family.

The crash not only caused physical and emotional distress to the officer but also led to financial hardships due to missed work and training opportunities. Wright’s defense attorney highlighted her remorse and attributed the collision to a momentary lapse of attention.

Following sentencing by Head of the Bench Charles Wood, Wright, from Rock Ferry, Merseyside, received an eight-month suspended jail term, a 12-month driving ban, and a fine of £272. The judge remarked on the seriousness of the offense, emphasizing the clear violation of traffic laws captured by the CCTV footage.