A mother and daughter who were in a car that was involved in a traffic accident in Sliema on January 7, recounted in court today how they saw a 'big car' swerving and being driven in their direction, moments before a major impact which saw the mother fracture two ribs, and her husband critically injured. 

They were giving evidence in the compilation of evidence against Borislav Ilici, 25, who was driving the Land Rover which crashed into the women's car, and his mother Tatiana Tesic, who was with him.

Mr Ilcic stands charged with causing damage and seriously injuring the two people in three traffic accidents in the space of four hours.

Vanessa Mangion testified that she had been driving her Peaugeot 205 from Sliema to St Julians whent he accident took place. Her mother, Tessa-Ann Mangion was in the passenger seat while her father Emanuel Mangion was in the back seat, along with another woman.

She said that as soon as she turned the bend near Balluta Church, she saw the 'big car' allegedly driven by Mr Ilicic swerving and at times was also on her lane.

She swerved to avoid the impact but he still crashed into her car's passenger side.

Her mother was trapped in the car while the other two passengers and herself managed to get out. Her father was critically hurt. It later resulted that he had torn the muscle that held his diaphragm and spent several days in ITU.

All four had been driving to a Paceville establishing where they had a cleaning job.

Testifying, Mrs Mangion said she thanked God for an electricity pole which had stopped the car from ending up in the sea. She said she was only given painkillers for her fractured ribs and she checked herself out of hospital because she had a disabled daughter to take care of.

"You have to be crazy to drive like that, he must have been drunk or something," she told the court.

Mr Ilicic is also charged with failing to stop after the first two accidents, driving dangerously and recklessly, driving without insurance or a licence, failing to obey the rules of the road and lying under oath at the St Julians police station.

Tatjana Tesic is charged with allowing her car to be used by her son when he was not licensed to drive and also lying under oath at the police station.