A driver whose vehicle cartwheeled through the air during a catastrophic head-on collision at 98mph has been jailed, after his reckless overtaking manoeuvre left a mother and daughter with life-altering injuries.
Reckless Overtaking on Busy A697
Ross Jackson, 26, from Selkirk in Scotland, was travelling north on the A697 near Wooler, Northumberland, on November 10, 2023, when he decided to overtake a line of busy traffic. Newcastle Crown Court heard that Jackson sped past 10 to 15 vehicles in what was described as a "stupid" and highly dangerous manoeuvre on the 60mph single carriageway.
Moment of Impact and Devastating Consequences
Dashcam footage played in court showed Jackson's VW Golf colliding head-on with an Audi Q3 being driven by a woman with her mother as a passenger. The impact caused Jackson's car to cartwheel through the air before landing on its roof, hitting several other vehicles in the process.
A subsequent police investigation revealed Jackson was travelling at 98mph at the moment of impact, with the combined collision speed well in excess of 100mph. The older woman in the Audi suffered a fractured sternum and broken ribs, while her daughter sustained severe whiplash and psychological trauma.
Victim Impact Statements Reveal Lasting Trauma
In a victim impact statement, the daughter explained she is "no longer the person I was before the collision" and detailed suffering from anxiety, PTSD, and the loss of her businesses as a result of the crash. She had to cancel a first-class trip to New York planned for her 50th birthday just weeks after the incident.
Her mother added that her previously active life had been severely impacted by her injuries, while Jackson's dog was ejected from the vehicle during the collision and sustained injuries that led to it being put down.
Court Sentencing and Judicial Remarks
Judge Graham Robinson told Jackson: "This is an extremely serious case. This was obviously a highly dangerous manoeuvre, to overtake that many cars on a single carriageway at that kind of speed. The decision to overtake a line of traffic at speeds approaching 100mph is unfathomable to any rational driver."
Jackson, who pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, was sentenced to 28 months in prison and banned from driving for three years.
Defence Mitigation and Remorse
Defence barrister Brian Hegarty told the court that Jackson was "devastated he caused such significant pain to the victims" and was profoundly sorry and remorseful for his actions. Hegarty described the crash as a "complete aberration" for Jackson, who had no previous convictions or speeding offences.
The court heard that Jackson suffered serious head injuries in the crash that led to him being placed in an induced coma, leaving him with no recollection of the accident. Hegarty added that Jackson was regarded by his employer as "honest, hard-working and dependable" and had led a blameless life until this incident.
