ROAD ACCIDENT – An off-duty policeman has collided into a car, seriously injuring a married couple, as he tried to recklessly overtake while towing his caravan on a busy road.
How the Crash Happened
The shocking moment when the two vehicles crashed head-on was caught on video and shows the officer driving his Kia Sorento straight into the Hyundai Getz in the other lane before smoke starts billowing from both cars.
Geraint York now faces dismissal after he was found guilty of careless driving, although he was cleared of the more serious charge of dangerous driving after a trial at Cardiff Crown Court.
Details of Injury Suffered
William Davies and Farzeen Hashmi were taken to hospital after they were left seriously injured by the collision, with Mr Davies needing surgery for a broken back, fractured ribs and a ‘smashed’ left knee.
The video shows Mr York, an officer with Gwent Police, catching up with the car in front as vehicles speed down the other lane on the A465 in Monmouthshire.
The 45-year-old then swerves at the last minute, just yards away from bystanders at a bus stop, to try to overtake the car on the wrong side of the road.
The officer’s red SUV crashes at pace into the oncoming light blue vehicle as a third car narrowly avoids being caught up in the collision, just missing the caravan trailing behind.
The victims’ car door then begins to open as clouds of smoke surround the scene.
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What he Said
In court, bodycam footage showed Mr York telling a fellow officer that he had attempted the overtake to avoid parked cars.
As it is
Nigel Fryer, who was defending the officer, said that Mr York might lose his job in the force and that he had gone through a ‘difficult divorce‘.
Judge Paul Hobson said that the officer could not be sent to prison for careless driving.
Mr York was ordered to pay £750 prosecution costs and a £450 fine and he received six penalty points.
Judge Hobson said: ‘One thing this demonstrates is the huge responsibility that we all have as drivers on the road.
‘Inattention by a driver, even for a short period of time, can have devastating consequences.
‘You and nobody else was to blame for this collision.’
