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A teenager, described as “frustrated,” was driving at speeds exceeding 140mph (225km/h) on his way to the gym when he collided with a taxi, causing severe injuries. The incident involved Max Dangerfield, who was 20 years old at the time of the crash on the A48 close to the Cross Hands roundabout in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, during the early hours of 25 January 2025. The taxi was transporting two women home after a night out when Dangerfield’s car struck it from behind.
The taxi driver sustained catastrophic injuries including broken ribs, brain bleeds, a punctured lung, and a damaged liver. Dangerfield was found to be uninsured at the time of the crash. On 13 August, Swansea Crown Court sentenced him to 28 months in a young offenders institution and banned him from driving for 50 months. Before regaining his license, he will be required to pass an extended driving test. Judge Huw Rees criticized the extreme speed, calling it “inexplicable” that anyone would drive at such high velocity or that the vehicle was capable of those speeds.
Details presented in court revealed that just before 4:30 a.m., two police officers traveling westbound on the A48 in an unmarked vehicle were overtaken by the black BMW M140i at over 100mph. Despite accelerating to 120mph, the officers could not keep up. Moments later, they discovered debris on the road and found a severely wrecked Toyota taxi on the verge. Though the two passengers managed to exit safely, the driver was trapped and unconscious. A motorist who had been behind the police also came upon the scene and found Dangerfield fully conscious and speaking on his phone inside the heavily damaged BMW.
Emergency services freed the trapped taxi driver, who was then hospitalized at the University Hospital of Wales and underwent several operations. He was discharged on 1 February but was medically declared unfit to drive and unable to return to work as a taxi driver. The police obtained data from Dangerfield’s car indicating it was traveling at 141.6mph (228km/h) at impact. Moreover, a forensic investigator found evidence suggesting that the vehicle’s speed exceeded this figure before the collision.
The taxi driver shared a victim impact statement describing the profound consequences the crash had on his life and family. Confined to bed for six months, he was unable to perform basic self-care or play with his children. He expressed the frustration that “no painkillers can touch the pain.” Having taken pride in hard work to support his family, he now works part-time as a self-employed taxi driver, only accepting local jobs around Swansea and avoiding night shifts. He admitted feeling grateful that police were nearby to reach him quickly following the collision.
Dangerfield, from Swiss Valley, Llanelli, had pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and had a prior conviction related to driving without insurance from August 2025. His defense lawyer, Megan Williams, stated that on the night of the crash, Dangerfield had been emotionally unsettled after an argument with a friend and had intended to relieve his frustration by driving to the gym. She said he understands now that he was mentally unfit to drive and wishes to apologize to his victim, expressing willingness to participate in restorative justice by meeting the taxi driver personally
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