Two police officers have been commended for the way they dealt with a horror crash which saw at least 15 people hurt, including four with serious injuries.

PC Brett Barham and Robert Hughes were given certificates of merit by their chief constable Alan Pughsley. They were on duty when a teenager ploughed into a crowd of people at a car meet on Medway City Estate in Strood.

Harlee Pendergast, 18, pleaded guilty to four counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and one count of withholding information to obtain insurance and has been warned by a judge he is facing jail.

Victims suffered injuries including a fractured skull and spine when he lost control of the car late at night.

Pendergast was arrested after the accident, on Friday, September 30, last year.

PCs Barham and Hughes were on duty responding to reports of nuisance vehicles and engaging with a large crowd of people when Pendergast’s car was seen speeding and swerving across the road towards them.

The car stopped feet away from where the officers were stood. It soon became clear someone was trapped beneath the Mini. They and some of the people present managed to lift the car to free him and the officers delivered vital first aid and assessed the injuries of casualties.

The officers have been commended for their composure, professionalism and quick-thinking which undoubtedly saved lives, secured vital evidence and
enabled effective management
of the harrowing scene.

Pendergast from Erith, south east London, pleaded guilty to the offences in April and is set return to Woolwich Crown Court for sentencing today.

Judge Alan Saggerson warned the defendant of the “high probability” he would receive an immediate custodial sentence.

The court heard how Pendergast attended the informal event where car users demonstrated their vehicles. It is understood he had been driving between 47mph and 69mph in the 30mph zone.

The fifth offence relates to modifying a vehicle without declaring it to his insurers.

Changes included adding blue lights and a modified exhaust.

Those badly hurt were named as Mike Dwyer, Rory Nicholls, Ryan Taylor and Thomas Spriggs.