Horrifying car crash left victims fearing for lives

A DANGER driver flew down the A689 as his passenger feared for his life before smashing through the central reservation and crashing head on into another car.

- By POPPY KENNEDY

Ashley Orr was told he was fortunate not to be facing more serious charges following the horror smash in May 2022. Judge Paul Reid, who jailed Orr for 48 months, said it was “one of the worst cases of danger driving” he had ever seen.

Orr, who initially pleaded not guilty, admitted two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving just days before his trial.

An investigation into the crash found that the Ford Focus, which Orr was behind the wheel of, was travelling 84mph when it appeared on the dashcam of one of his victim's car - the speed limit was 40mph.

On May 12, 2022, the 35-year-old defendant had picked up a friend from Burger King and they were heading to Hartlepool on the A689, Teesside Crown Court heard. Horrifying dashcam footage, which was played in court, shows the silver Ford Focus smashing partly through the central reservation, at a set of traffic lights near Truro Drive, and colliding head on with a car waiting to turn right.