Pedestrians hit in drink-drive rampage in Hull city centre: victim tells how people dived from path of car
A MAN has spoken of the terrifying moment he was mowed down by a drink-driver.
Andy Peace was run over while on a night out to celebrate his 32nd birthday in Hull city centre.
Driver Corey Eastwood twice mounted the pavement during the drunken rampage on a Saturday night, leaving people running for safety.
Mr Peace, of north Bransholme, said: "It was chaos. There were people diving everywhere to get out of his way.
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"It is lucky no one was killed with the way he was driving. He was out of control."
Eastwood was only stopped when a car blocked his path and Mr Peace punched him through the driver's window, before taking the keys out of the ignition.
Eastwood, 20, of Thanet Road, east Hull, is now facing jail after admitting dangerous driving and drink-driving.
Mr Peace suffered a broken metatarsal and has been fitted with a temporary cast while he awaits the result of a CT scan to assess any ligament damage.
Mr Peace claims his cousin Jamie Peace, 21, and friend Caroline Watson, 24, were also run over and suffered foot and leg injuries. Both were treated at Hull Royal Infirmary.
Mr Peace said: "I hope they throw the book at him. He deserves to go to prison. He could have killed someone.
"It was like there was nobody behind the wheel. When I looked at him, he looked out of it. It was like he was looking through me, not at me.
"The police said he was so legless, he couldn't stand up."
Mr Peace and his partner Emma Middleton, 26, had just left the Soho Lounge in Posterngate when they first saw Eastwood.
"Emma was walking just ahead of me and started to cross the road when I saw reverse lights heading towards her," he said.
"I ran out and pushed her out of the way and he nearly hit me, so I went to the side of the car and told him to be careful.
"He looked really, really drunk and he just put his foot down and started driving backwards again.
"Everybody was literally jumping out of his way. He crashed into some barriers outside the Kingston Hotel and hit someone who didn't get out of the way in time.
"His bumper was hanging off but he started driving forwards again and mounted the pavement.
"Then he drove back across the road and mounted the other side of the pavement, which is when he hit me and my cousin, and drove off."
His path was then blocked by a car.
"I was in a lot of pain but I managed to go over and punched him in the face through the window," said Mr Peace.
"Then lots of bouncers came over and pulled him out of the car. There were people everywhere who were trying to get to him and hit him.
"Within a couple of seconds, the police were there and had him on the floor.
"I am just glad nobody was killed or seriously hurt. I am angry about what has happened to me but really, everyone was very lucky."
Eastwood was arrested and charged with dangerous driving and drink-driving.
He pleaded guilty to both offences when he appeared at Hull Magistrates' Court.
He was remanded in custody but has since been released ahead of sentencing at Hull Crown Court later this month.
Comments
by AlArmstrong
Wednesday, November 07 2012, 12:35PM
“Dear oh dear, the Jeremy Kyle generation! Just because someone loses a family member doesn't give them carte blanche to go on a drunken rampage and mow some pedestrians down.”
by Hull31
Tuesday, November 06 2012, 6:34PM
“Band from driving I seen him riding round on a motor bike so if he is band I think driving with no insurance and a licence is just as bad as drink driving it's the likes of us that follow the law that suffer with bigger insurance policy's”
by LordChez
Tuesday, November 06 2012, 3:40PM
“Should it not read 'drunk driver' rather than 'drink driver'?”
by AlArmstrong
Tuesday, November 06 2012, 1:06PM
“Pity he didn't reverse all the way into Princes Dock, imagine all the money in benefits we'd have saved!”
by EllRuRose
Sunday, November 04 2012, 3:58PM
“I hope he's arrested assault! Oh and isnt it funny when the boots on the other foot ay Andy?! You've been banned from driving how many times now?!”
by cazmarelda
Saturday, November 03 2012, 6:43AM
“Sympathy to the young man on the loss of his brother - but many years ago my 30 yr old brother died, 3 months later my best friend aged 30 died and then soon after my much loved cousin aged 28 died I did not get drunk drive a car and put other peoples lives at risk. Grief is a terrible thing but we are still responsible within that grief. This young man may not be a cretin but he behaved like one. Yes, he will be punished and a judge will decide on that, but it should not be taken into account that he had just lost his brother because other lives could have been lost through his behaviour that night and others could be suffering the loss of a loved one and would it then be right for them to get drunk and drive and put others lives at risks and so on?
Yes, we all make mistakes but they do not usually involve putting others lives at risk!”
by Jwilson2012
Saturday, November 03 2012, 4:24AM
“This is a young man who lost his brother 11 weeks ago I'm not excusing what he did nothing excuses putting others in danger but I just want those of you who think him just a "cretin" to know that there is a story behind the headline cory's story. His brother went to sleep & never woke up it was devaststing for the whole family.
cory should never have been drunk behind the wheel & A judge will make a decision on what Punishment he deserves for that.
We all do things we regret & I'm sure cory regrets this. all im asking is please don't judge
Him too harshly not many of us get through life without making mistakes do we?”
by dixiedog123
Saturday, November 03 2012, 1:29AM
“Well done Mister Peace. Hope you recover soon. Must have been a terrible ordeal for you all! As for comments regarding your actions, well, perhaps your actions saved other folk from injury or worse! Well Done!”
by BevRoadNorth
Friday, November 02 2012, 10:06PM
“'Clipped' someone with a car? He was so drunk he could barely walk and went up on the pavement among pedestrians. What should people have doen when he crashed to a halt, appealed to his better nature to politely hand over the keys, or lamp the dick and stop him takin goff and killing someone..”
by Dave_Navarro
Friday, November 02 2012, 9:01PM
“Was Mr Peace arrested for assault? You can't attack someone just because they clipped you with their car.
A few years ago I was knocked off my motorcycle by a lady who had been drinking. I didn't realise that it would have been OK to punch her in the face.
Typical Bransholmer, first sign of a problem, and start throwing punches.”