WATCH as a Peterborough car crash survivor warns of the devastation caused by motorists who drink drive

These are the words of Peterborough woman Sharon Enoch a year after she survived an horrific car crash that killed her friend and driver, Muhammad Faizan (23) when they were struck by a Vauxhall car driven by Owen Bird.

The collision occurred on the A605 near Coates at about 8.30pm on December 21 last year as Sharon and Muhammed made their way to The Griffin in March where they worked as door staff..

Mr Faizan was killed at the scene, while Miss Enoch was left with serious injuries including a fractured spine that left her in hospital for a month.

Bird, of Whittlesey, was jailed last month for eight years after he pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving while over the prescribed limit and causing serious injury by careless driving while over the prescribed limit.

He was also banned from driving until November 21 2034

Speaking about the horrific impact of the crash, Sharon (43) told how the incident had changed her life forever.

She appealed to everyone to think twice before getting behind the wheel.

After the collision, Sharon had been taken to Addenbrookes’ Hospital where she spent the next six weeks recovering from significant injuries including internal bleeding, spinal fractures, pelvic fractures, a broken collar bone and fractured ribs.

Her young children were only able to visit her once over the Christmas period.

She said: “He (Muhammad) was a genuine, genuine bloke.

“He was just 23 at the time, and no one ever had a bad word to say about him.

"He just got on with everyone.

“We were talking just the week before about how he was looking forward to the future, getting married and having kids.”

Muhammad’s family said they were heartbroken, and that more than 1,000 people had come to his funeral in Pakistan.

Sharon said: “My life has changed; I can’t do the job I loved anymore.

"It’s affected my children; they see me a little bit differently now.

"I was such a bubbly, outgoing person before this.

"I’ve lost so much of myself.

“You nearly had my partner tell his children that their mum’s dead, four days before Christmas. All because you wanted to drink and drive. All because of one night of selfishness and no thought for anyone else.

“Just don’t do it, think twice, think three times. It’s just not worth it.”

PC Adrian Boddington, the force’s casualty reduction officer, said: “Drink driving is a choice, your choice.

"There is a tsunami effect when someone is killed or seriously injured on our roads.

“Muhammad was a young man working hard for his future, which has been cruelly snatched away.

"His family will never be the same.

"Sharon can no longer work in the job she loved, which brings a financial burden to her and her family, she faces potentially years of physio and operations to correct the damage done.

“The emergency services who attend these distressing incidents, sadly all too routinely, are faced with the trauma of lives that could not be saved and those changed forever.

“Bird himself must live with these facts for the rest of his life; his choices have come at a great cost.

Appealing to all motorists, PC Boddington said: “You can help us make our roads safer by reporting anyone you suspect of driving while under the influence of drink or drugs.

“We have a dedicated hotline, and all calls are taken in confidence. One call could save a life.”

The hotline - 0800 032 0845 - is available 24/7. If someone is in immediate danger, always call 999.