Man's A19 crash left passenger in extreme pain

PLOUGHED INTO CAR THEN FLED THE SCENE

- By ESTHER HALLIGAN

A DANGER driver smashed into a car on the A19 and left his elderly passenger in 'excruciating pain'.

Haroon Mohammed, 41, had been weaving in and out of traffic and speeding all the way to Middlesbrough from Burnley.

He was making the journey in his Astra on October 27, 2023, to give his passenger a lift in exchange for cash, Teesside Crown Court has heard.

Mohammed's passenger later told police that he was relieved when Mohammed came off country lanes - where he had hit the kerb more than once - and reached the A19.

The man relaxed and dozed off, once he saw he was near the A174 and almost home. But other drivers described being alarmed by Mohammed's careering Astra on the A19 northbound near Teesside Park.

Andrew Espley, prosecuting, said that the driver of the blue Mercedes in front of Mohammed said that there was "no need" for him to get up close to him as the fast lane next to them was clear. He said that Mohammed was doing between 80 and 100mph.

Another driver, who handed over dashcam footage to the police, described Mohammed's driving as "appalling."

The court heard that Mohammed had been tailgating a number of cars.