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'Misjudgement' led to 50mph head-on crash
A SERIOUS driving misjudgement led to a head-on crash which left the victim unable to work normally.
Frank Armstong drove into an oncoming car after overtaking on a humpback bridge, on Drum Road, near Chester-le-Street, at 7pm last October 17.
Durham Crown Court heard that Gene Bilton was at the wheel of his Vauxhall Vectra approaching the bridge when he suddenly saw a car ahead.
Jane Mitford, prosecuting, said: "He could not swerve as he would have hit the vehicle being overtaken by Armstrong.
"His only course of action was to apply his brakes.
"He remembers nothing about the impact except his vehicle rolled backwards, across the carriageway, and struck a metal fence."
Firefighters cut Mr Bilton free from the Vectra, which, like Armstrong's Rover, was written off due to the damage.
Mr Bilton suffered severe whiplash and tissue damage to his right arm, and was off work for four weeks.
Miss Mitford said on returning to work, he could not complete his previous duties and was given a desk job.
She said the 55-year-old steel fitter, of Holmlands Estate, Sunniside, Houghton-le-Spring, is now unemployed after the company closed and fears he will be unable to find work.
Miss Mitford said police accident investigators estimated Armstrong was driving at 50mph on the stretch of road, which had a 30mph limit.
He told police he was driving around 50mph, believing that was the speed limit.
Armstrong, 29, of Wardle Street, South Moor, Stanley, admitted dangerous driving.
The court heard he has a previous drink-drive conviction and received a six-month supervision order in January for assaulting his now estranged partner, three days after the collision.
Jamie Adams, mitigating, said it was "not prolonged bad driving", and took place during a difficult period in his domestic life.
But Mr Adams said Armstrong is now on better terms with his ex-partner, and hopes to find work after completing a brick-laying course.
Judge Richard Lowden said: "It was a gross miscalculation, a bad error of judgement."
But he added as there were no "aggravating features", he could avoid imposing a prison sentence.
Armstrong was given a 12-month community order, including 120-hours' unpaid work and was banned from driving for a year.
11:08am Saturday 10th May 2008
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