Careless Newcastle van driver left seven-year-old child with broken bone in A1 smash
A child was left injured on the way home from a family trip out when a van driver pulled out into the path of a car on the A1.
A couple had been to Holy Island with their seven-year-old son and two friends in March last year and were driving home south on the A1 when they came toward a junction with a minor road at Brownieside, in Northumberland. Brandon Davison was in Ford van on the minor road waiting to join the A1 to head north.
Having slowly moved forward, he stopped to allow some vehicles to pass but then pulled out, intending to turn right, into the path of the family's car. The dad who was driving tried to take evasive action but was unable to avoid a collision and the force of the impact propelled their car into a road sign.
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The seven-year-old suffered a fractured collarbone and was kept in hospital overnight while his dad suffered cuts and burns from the airbag going off.
Other motorists stopped at the scene and Davison said he had checked left but not right before pulling out. He left the scene of the accident but later said he would not have done so had he realised a child was injured. He was caught because the dad in the car which was hit took a picture of his registration plate.
When interviewed by police, Davison, 25, of Fenton Walk, West Denton, Newcastle, said he believed the road was clear but accepted he should have paid more attention and accepted he was at fault. He said his father owned the van and he believed he was insured to drive it, although he wasn't.
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Davison, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by careless driving and having no insurance. He was sentenced to a community order with 100 hours unpaid work and a 12 month driving ban. He was also fined £330 and must pay £400 costs.
Judge Carolyn Scott, at Newcastle Crown Court, told Davison: "I've seen the pictures. It was clearly a nasty accident and really you are fortunate you are here today in respect of this offence rather than a more serious offence."
Brian Mark, defending, said Davison, who has been working as a night porter, would not have left the scene had he known there was an injured child. He added: "There was a nasty accident but it's not the worst case of careless driving but it could have had catastrophic outcome and someone could have died. The act was quite small but the consequences could have been huge."