A man has been sentenced to prison after causing a high-speed crash that left a mother and daughter injured. Ross Jackson, 26, was driving recklessly on the A697 near Wooler, Northumberland, overtaking multiple vehicles at speeds exceeding 98mph. His VW Golf flipped over and collided with other cars, resulting in a serious head-on collision with an Audi Q3.
The court heard that Jackson was driving at speeds between 80 and 90mph in a 60mph zone when the crash occurred. The impact caused the Golf to flip through the air, hitting several cars before landing upside down. The occupants of the Audi, a mother and daughter, sustained significant injuries, including fractured bones and whiplash.
The daughter expressed how the accident had profoundly affected her life, causing anxiety, PTSD, and business losses. She had to cancel a planned trip to New York for her 50th birthday and felt a loss of enthusiasm for life. The mother also noted a negative impact on her previously active lifestyle due to her injuries.
Tragically, Jackson’s dog was also injured in the crash and had to be euthanized. Investigations revealed that Jackson was driving at 98mph at the time of impact. The judge described the crash as “extremely serious” and emphasized the dangers of such reckless driving behavior.
Jackson, who admitted to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, received a 28-month prison sentence and a three-year driving ban. His defense lawyer acknowledged the severity of the consequences and expressed Jackson’s deep remorse for the harm caused. Jackson, with no prior convictions, was described as a responsible and hard-working individual by his employer, with the crash considered a rare error in judgment.
