Moment ‘silly’ driver’s automobile ‘cartwheels’ after overtaking 15 earlier than 98mph crash

Ross Jackson’s “stupid” manoeuvre on a busy Northumberland road ended with his VW Golf “cartwheeling” through the air and landing on its roof after smashing into other cars

A reckless motorist who left a mother and daughter wounded in a head-on collision whilst travelling at 98mph during a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre involving up to 15 vehicles has been sentenced to prison.

Ross Jackson’s “stupid” stunt on a congested Northumberland carriageway resulted in his VW Golf “cartwheeling” through the air before crashing roof-first after ploughing into other vehicles.

The incident occurred shortly after 11.30am on November 10 2023 when Jackson, 26, was travelling on the A697, near Wooler.

He was proceeding northbound in a queue of heavy traffic when he chose to execute the perilous move.

The court was told he was travelling at 80 to 90mph along the 60mph section as he raced past ten to fifteen vehicles, reports Chronicle Live.

One motorist approaching from the opposite direction was forced to take evasive measures, mounting a kerb.

He then crashed head-on with an Audi Q3 driven by a woman, accompanied by her mother in the passenger seat.

Dash cam footage of the collision shown in court reveals the Golf “cartwheeling” through the air, striking several other vehicles before coming to rest upside down.

The elderly passenger in the Audi sustained serious injuries, including a fractured sternum and broken ribs.

Her daughter, who endured severe whiplash, stated in a victim impact statement that she is “no longer the person I was before the collision” and revealed she had experienced anxiety and PTSD, losing her businesses as a consequence of the crash.

She explained she had to cancel a first class trip to New York which she was due to take for her 50th birthday just weeks after the collision. She also said that she “doesn’t have the same zest for life” as she previously did. The victim’s mother revealed that her daughter, who once led an active lifestyle, has been severely affected by the injuries she sustained.

Jackson’s dog was also thrown from the vehicle during the crash and suffered injuries so severe that it had to be euthanised. A police investigation later determined that Jackson was driving at a speed of 98mph at the time of the collision.

Judge Graham Robinson described the horrifying scene captured on video, with Jackson’s car “cartwheeling” through the air following a “devastating impact”.

Addressing Jackson, he said: “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, from Bridge Street, Selkirk, Scotland, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He was sentenced to 28 months in prison and disqualified from driving for three years.

Brian Hegarty, defending, stated: “The consequences of his dangerous driving are not lost upon him. He is devastated he caused such significant pain to the victims, who were completely blameless, of course. He is profoundly sorry and remorseful for what he has done.”

Mr Hegarty revealed that Jackson possesses a clean driving record with no prior convictions or speeding violations, describing the collision as a “complete aberration”.

He explained that Jackson has no memory of the incident due to severe injuries he sustained, including head trauma that required doctors to place him in an induced coma.

Mr Hegarty informed the court: “All that can be done is to speculate that he misjudged the overtaking manoeuvre very badly.”

He continued: “He was devastated he was responsible for the death of his beloved dog.”

Mr Hegarty stated that Jackson’s employer views him as “honest, hard-working and dependable” and told the court: “He has led a blameless life until this stupid overtaking manoeuvre.”