Sandbanks brothers charged after Boxing Day crash leaves teen sister with life-changing injuries

Two Sandbanks brothers were charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving after Boxing Day 2023 crash on Banks Road in Sandbanks, Poole Harbour, Dorset, that left their teenage sister with life-changing injuries. Henry Taylor, 21, was allegedly driving a BMW 135i, while Harrison Taylor, 19, drove a Mercedes A200, with another friend in the passenger seat. Mia Savage, then 17, was sitting in the front passenger seat of the Mercedes when the trio, and their companions, allegedly drove in loops along Banks Road, the edge of Poole Harbour on the exclusive Sandbanks peninsula. The incident occurred in the early hours of December 26, 2023, as the group appeared to be testing speed along the area known for its luxury homes.

About 1 a.m., the Mercedes left Banks Road and struck a gatepost at a mansion on the row of upmarket properties. The BMW then crashed into the back of the Mercedes, propelling the Mercedes into a garden wall. Savage, then 17, became mechanically trapped in the wreckage and had to be freed by fire and rescue crews; she was airlifted to Southampton Hospital for treatment of life-changing injuries to her legs.

Both defendants appeared at Poole Magistrates' Court with their parents and did not enter pleas. The case was deemed too serious for the magistrates and has been transferred to Bournemouth Crown Court, where they are due to appear next month. Prosecutor David Finney told the court that the Taylor brothers are siblings and that the passengers in their vehicles were friends who had left a shared address to drive a loop along Banks Road. He described the sequence of events in which the Mercedes left the road, struck a gatepost, and was struck from behind by the BMW, sending the Mercedes into a garden wall. Savage’s injuries were described as life-changing, and she required extraction and air transport to hospital.

Both brothers have been released on unconditional bail ahead of the Crown Court hearing, and police urged anyone who witnessed the incident or recorded dashcam footage to come forward to assist the inquiry. Dorset Police said at the time that officers were investigating a serious injury collision in Sandbanks, Poole, and were appealing for witnesses or dashcam footage.

The exclusive Sandbanks peninsula has long been described as one of the UK's most exclusive enclaves. Seafront-facing homes can fetch as much as £13.5 million, and the picturesque area has attracted notable residents and visitors, including celebrity chef Rick Stein and former Premier League manager Harry Redknapp.