Man describes collision that cost him his eyesight

A court heard how a man lost his eyesight after he was shunted from behind by an speeding truck while he was waiting at a set of traffic lights.

37-year old software developer Trevor Grech, from Tarxien, was testifying during the compilation of evidence against Lawrence Agius, who is charged with negligent and dangerous driving and causing serious injury to Grech.

The victim told Magistrate Aaron Bugeja that he was driving back from work at around 6pm on 16 February 2012 near the Marsa Shipbuilding site when he stopped at an amber light - “I looked in my rear-view mirror and saw the truck barrelling towards me. I realised that it was not going to stop.”

Indeed it didn’t - the impact propelled his vehicle some 50 metres up the road. “I ended up at the top of the Addolorata hill,” said Grech.

He told the court that the force of the crash also pushed the rear seat into him, the headrest hitting him in the back of his skull as his head rebounded off the dashboard.

When he got out of his car and realised that he could not see clearly. He could make out the figure of the person who hit him but could not focus on his face, he said.

Hospital examinations established that Grech had fractured parts of his spine.

Taking frequent pauses in his testimony to compose himself, an emotional Grech explained the long-term impact of the injuries he suffered. At the time his left hand went numb and tingled and he soon developed vertigo.

Even after his spinal fractures had healed, he said, whenever he exerts himself or his heart rate increases, his neck would swell and cause pain.

“My doctors said I had suffered a 65% disability but my insurance only adjudged it to be 20%” said the man, adding that the meagre insurance payout had long since been spent on medical expenses.

He told the court that he used to be an avid cyclist but that this was no longer possible due to his condition.

However most distressing of all he said, was the damage to his sight. He claims that he can no longer focus his vision, look at bright lights, or watch television. While he is still employed with MITA, he said that he now can only work 10 hours a week and receives a far lower pay than he did before.

Lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri appeared for Agius, while Lawyer Stephen Tonna Lowell appeared in parte civile for Grech.