Drug driver who caused head-on crash in police chase is jailed

58-MONTH SENTENCE AFTER FOUR PEOPLE LEFT WITH SEVERE INJURIES

- By DAVID HUNTLEY

A VAN driver who was driving “erratically” in Northumberland before smashing head-on into a married couple’s car during a high-speed police chase has been jailed for almost five years.

Dangerous driver Steven Ormston had a cocktail of drugs in his system, including ketamine, morphine, cocaine, benzoylecgonine and alcohol, when he was involved in a police pursuit on roads in Northumberland.

The 40-year-old led police on a high-speed chase which saw him driving the wrong way around roundabouts in Cramlington.

Ormston, who had two teenagers in his van, then crashed head-on into a vehicle being driven by a married couple.

The horrific crash caused devastating injuries, with the male victim sustaining multiple fractures, including to his spine and clavicle.

His wife had to be cut out of the car by emergency services, before both were rushed to the Royal Victoria Infirmary. One of the teens who was in Ormston’s van continues to have walking issues after sustaining serious injuries to his pelvis.