Who is Elliot Harris? Boy racer Jailed After Crash Leaves 16-Year-Old Girl With Broken Spine

A teenage driver who caused a serious crash that left a 16-year-old girl with a fractured spine has been jailed. Elliot Harris, now 19, was driving at more than 80mph in a 30mph zone when he lost control and hit a fence.

The incident happened just four days after Harris first got behind the wheel as a licensed driver. He had passed his test only three weeks earlier. On the day of the crash, Harris picked up two 16-year-old girls from a dance class. According to Liverpool Crown Court, he sped through residential roads, hit speed bumps at high speed, and even drove over a roundabout.

At one point, Harris reached 88mph. The girls repeatedly begged him to slow down. Moments later, he crashed near the junction of Alder Lane and Water Lane in Cronton, Widnes. Both girls were injured, but one suffered a cracked spine and required hospital surgery.

The injured girl said in a victim statement that Harris told his other passengers — the second girl and two boys — to leave her at the scene. She recalled: “He left me injured, terrified, and in unimaginable pain without even checking if I was okay. I honestly thought I might die.”

She said she did not know Harris before that night. After the crash, her dream of becoming a professional dancer was shattered.

“Dance wasn’t just something I loved, it was who I was,” she said. “I’ve lost the strength, stamina, and flexibility I once had. It’s heartbreaking. This crash didn’t just break my spine — it broke my future.”

Harris, of Whistable Park, Widnes, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He had no previous convictions. His defence argued he was inexperienced and underestimated the danger due to his lack of driving time.

Judge Mark Bradshaw told Harris: “You were showing off, and sadly that was your motive. This was reckless driving only days after getting your licence.”

Harris was sentenced to 12 months in a young offenders institution. He was also banned from driving for five years and six months, after which he must take an extended re-test.