An early-morning three-car pile up in Southside landed a taxi driver in hospital and a second motorist in court.Eric Dunkley went on trial yesterday charged with causing injury by reckless driving as a result of the crash, which took place on June 5, 2011.Prosecutor Maria Sofianos told the jury that Mr Dunkley, 40, was driving his silver jeep along Southside Road, St David’s, directly behind a blue Opel Astra at around 4.30am. The two cars were travelling East and, according to Ms Sofianos, “appeared to be racing”.Taxi driver Christopher Dailey was heading in the opposite direction and, as the two sets of vehicles neared the Pizza House restaurant, Mr Dailey had to swerve to avoid a head-on collision. Despite his actions, there was impact between all three vehicles.“There was a loud bang and smoke filled the air,” Ms Sofianos said, adding that the three cars were “extensively damaged”.Both Mr Dailey and Mr Dunkley were injured in the smash and needed hospital treatment.According to the prosecution, Mr Dailey suffered a sprained ankle and neck and cuts to his face and hands.Photographs of the wreckage taken by a forensics police officer were presented as exhibits and shown to the jury during yesterday’s session.Among the pictures taken by Det Con Hannah Brackstone was the blood-splattered interior of Mr Dunkley’s car.Mr Dailey explained that he had purchased his brand new cab just a few months before the accident.Recounting his movements in the hours before the incident, Mr Dailey said that he had worked into the evening of Saturday, June 4, finally getting home to St George’s at around 9pm.But as a favour to a friend, he went out on one final job shortly after midnight, taking an acquaintance to a party at Gombey’s Restaurant & Bar at Clearwater in St David’s.Mr Dailey said that he was invited in to the party and stayed for one drink.But shortly after 1am, he decided to leave, telling his fare that he would wait for him in his cab parked outside.“I wasn’t feeling it, so I told my friend that I would be out in the car when he was ready,” Mr Dailey said.Mr Dailey will continue his testimony when the trial resumes before Acting Judge Charlene Scott this morning.