'Confident' driver jailed after head-on crash

A driver who left a woman with serious injuries after a head-on crash has been jailed for two years and four months.

Derbyshire Police said Robert Browne was overtaking three cars "in poor weather conditions" on the A517 near Hulland on 5 December 2024 when he crashed into a car coming the other way.

A police statement said he had been driving at about 60mph (96.56km/h) on the opposite side of the road when he lost control of his car on a corner and collided head on with a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction.

The 72-year-old, of Station Road in Morton, pleaded guilty to one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and was sentenced at Derby Crown Court on Tuesday.

Police said other drivers had reduced their speed to about 35mph on the 50mph road because of the road conditions, with heavy rain in the area causing large pools of standing water and reducing visibility.

Browne approached the back of a line of traffic before overtaking other vehicles, the force said, leading to the crash.

The injured woman had to be cut out of her car by firefighters and "had to undergo a number of operations" as a result of her injuries.

Police said Browne admitted speeding after being arrested and said he "believed he was a more confident and competent driver than all others on the road that night".

As well as his jail sentence, he was also banned from driving for five years and two months and must take an extended retest before being allowed back on the road.

Det Con Scott Cooper, who led the investigation, described it as "a stark example of the impact of poor driving".

"Despite his confidence in his own abilities, Browne's driving on this occasion fell far below the standard of a safe and considerate driver," he said.

"While other drivers had done the sensible thing and slowed down because of the weather conditions, Browne felt that he was better than that and instead exceeded the speed limit carrying out a number of dangerous overtakes.

"His actions led to this serious crash which has caused extensive injuries to another driver who was simply on her way home from work."

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