A CAR driven too quickly by a 25-year-old west Belfast man struck five members of a film crew "like a bowling ball", a court heard.
An RTÉ crew were shooting a documentary close to Boucher Road in south Belfast on November 30, 2015, when a car driven by Hugh McGrattan struck a kerb, then collided with a group of up to 15 people on a footpath.
Five cast and crew members were seriously injured in the collision in the Falcon Road/Apollo Road area.
Belfast Crown Court heard on Thursday that one woman sustained a spinal cord injury, suffered paralysis from the chest down and now requires a wheelchair.
Others seriously wounded in the crash have been left with life-changing injuries.
McGrattan, from Whiterock Drive, admitted at the scene that he was speeding and told a police officer: "I thought I was going to tip over".
He appeared in court after admitting five separate counts of causing grievous bodily injury by dangerous driving.
CCTV footage taken from a nearby train halt camera indicated that at one point, McGrattan's Skoda Fabia was travelling between 52mph and 69mph in a 30mph area.
Witnesses said the car was speeding when it hit the kerb, mounted the footpath and ploughed into a group of around 15 people who were wearing high-visibility clothing
One woman said she saw the car drive straight at the pedestrians and struck them "like a bowling ball". Another said the car was "like a snow plough with people being swept away".
The prosecution told Judge McCaffrey that the collision - which occurred close to the Hovis Bakery entrance - happened at night in an industrial area which was well lit due to the film crew.
He said some of those injured still need medical treatment.
And he said the crash happened due to McGrattan driving at "grossly excessive" speeds.
The defence said McGrattan has been since diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and has not driven since.
He said McGrattan deeply regrets the crash, adding that the accused remained at the scene, offered help to the injured and also admitted to police he was speeding.
He said although McGrattan's speed before the crash was "excessive", forensic evidence suggested that when he hit the kerb, the car was travelling at around 25mph.
Judge McCaffrey said she wanted time to reflect on the case and would pass sentence next week.
McGrattan was released on continuing bail.
