Daniel Blight fronts court for ploughing into a female cyclist

A Melbourne cyclist and beloved mother-of-one was left with a brain injury after a sports car-driving hoon with a shocking driving history ran a red light and ploughed into her.

Gold Coast tiler Daniel Blight has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious injury to Melbourne sonographer Saba Harrington at Fitzroy.

A sports car-driving hoon with a shocking history behind the wheel ran a red light and collided with a female cyclist, sending her flying through the air, leaving her with a traumatic brain injury

Gold Coast man Daniel Blight, 40, pleaded guilty in the County Court on Friday to one charge of dangerous driving causing serious injury to Saba Harrington, a sonographer at Epworth Medical Imaging in Melbourne, about 4pm on September 27, 2023.

The court heard that when he struck Mr Harrington with his Porsche, Blight’s licence was suspended in Queensand due to an accumulation of demerit points.

Tests revealed he had cocaine in his syste, at the time of the crash, at the intersection of St Georges Rd and Park St.

Witnesses heard loud braking, followed by a scream and a thud and saw Ms Harrington flying through the air.

A witness rushed to Ms Harrington’s assistance and saw a large swelling above her left eye, blood pouring out of her nose and mouth and she didn’t respond verbally or physically.

Melbourne mother-of-one Saba Harrington suffered critical injuries when a Porsche, driven by Daniel Blight, struck her at Fitzroy.

Ms Harrington was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with fractures to her left femur thigh bone, left fibula calf bone and a traumatic brain injury.

She spent 40 days in hospital before undergoing rehabilitation.

In her victim impact statement, she spoke about the daily frustration and limitations as a result of her brain injury which has changed her life.

“I don’t smile the same and am psychologically unhappy. I don’t drive, can’t go to personal appointments alone, can’t do the grocery shopping alone. I have lost the ability to do many of my loved hobbies,” she said.

Ms Harrington said her husband wasn’t sure if she was going to live and that her marriage was strained.

Judge Claire Quin described Blight’s speeding history as “appalling”.

In 2023, she said Blight drove at more than 20km/h on five occasions, four times in 2022 and twice each in the preceding two years.

Blight’s lawyer Veronika Drago said he had underlying mental health issues and was diagnosed with ADHD at a young age.

The plea hearing will continue on Monday.