A lorry driver has been jailed after crashing into a car and leaving a mum and her daughter with "appalling" injuries.

Sergejs Mikulovs crossed onto the wrong side of Seven Mile Lane and collided with a black Vauxhall Corsa heading in the opposite direction, near Mereworth.

The crash took place at around 6.40pm on July 12, 2021 and Sergejs Mikulovs, who was driving a white DAF articulated lorry, had been heading towards a depot in Paddock Wood.

He lost control of the vehicle while trying to negotiate a bend near the junction with Willow Wents.

The lorry went onto the wrong side of the road and hit into the Corsa, causing the car to catch fire and forcing it onto a grass verge.

A woman and her adult daughter were both in the hatchback and were treated at the scene before being taken to a London hospital with serious injuries.

One of the women will require lifelong ongoing care.

'The driver of the Corsa stood almost no chance in getting out of the way...'

A police investigation established that when Mikulovs lost control of the lorry it had reached a speed of almost 60mph. The road had a maximum legal limit of 50mph.

Mikulovs of Fulmar Road, Strood, was charged with two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The 42-year-old pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court and on Friday was sentenced to 22 months’ imprisonment.

He was also disqualified from driving for almost three years and will have to take an extended test.

PC Chris Oliver-Jones said: "As this case shows a lapse in concentration can have devastating consequences.

"Sergejs Mikulovs was simply going too fast to safely negotiate a stretch of road he had travelled several times and knew very well.

"It must always be the responsibility of the driver to take account of circumstances and conditions every time they get behind the wheel.

"The driver of the Corsa stood almost no chance in getting out of the way and two people have now sadly been left suffering some appalling injuries which will have a profound impact on the rest of their lives."