Harlow: Man who admitted causing serious collision has been sentenced

A driver who admitted making a U-turn that seriously injured a motorcyclist has been banned for three years.
 
On Sunday 5 May last year, we were notified of a collision on A1025, Harlow, near to the junction with A414. 
 
On arrival, officers saw a Honda car on the verge and a BMW motorcycle on the middle of the road, both had been seriously damaged.
 
The car driver told police he had missed his turn off and was waiting at the lay-by to perform a U-turn. As he did so, he failed to see the oncoming motorcycle.
 
The impact of the collision forced the motorcyclist over the top of the car, resulting in serious injuries that included internal bleeding and fractured ribs. 
 
Simon Baker, 42 of Church Road, Ongar, appeared at Colchester Magistrate's Court on Wednesday 24 April where he was sentenced to 26 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and banned from driving for three years after he pleaded guilty to a charge of causing serious injury by careless driving at an earlier hearing.  
 
The court also imposed an unpaid work requirement of 300 hours to be completed within the next 12 months. 
 
PC Joe Goodwin, investigating, said:
 
As Roads Policing officers, we’re dedicated to keeping the roads safe, but everyone has a part to play, and I’d ask all drivers to ensure you are safe to carry out a manoeuvre before doing so.
Check your mirrors.
Ensure the road is clear.
If there is any doubt, don’t.

Help us reduce road collisions and casualties in Essex and make our roads even safer. Report instances of poor and dangerous driving through Safer Essex Roads Partnership's Extra Eyes initiative.

More than ever, irresponsible, dangerous and illegal road behaviour is being recorded by road users. Through Extra Eyes this footage can be sent to, and reviewed by, an investigator within Road Policing at Essex Police.

Find out how by visiting Safer Essex Roads Partnership website.