Driver clocks ‘ludicrously’ fast’ 145mph in near crash
COURT TOLD DRIVER WAS LUCKY NO ONE WAS KILLED
A driver speeding at 145mph on the A1 narrowly avoided smashing into a farm vehicle.
Jon O’Brien was behind the wheel of an Audi when he reached more than twice the limit on the dual carriageway in Northumberland.
A speed camera van at Felton by-pass caught the car having to brake heavily and manoeuvre to avoid an agricultural vehicle turning across the A1.
O’Brien, who has previous convictions for driving without due care and attention and drink driving, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving but was spared prison at Newcastle Crown Court.
Recorder Ben Nolan QC told him: “This was driving at breakneck speed and you were fortunate no neck was broken or injury caused because had you killed or injured someone as a result of this ludicrously fast driving, you would have been going to prison for a very long time.”
The court heard it was on Sunday April 25 that the police road safety van spotted the speeding Audi.
Neil Pallister, prosecuting, said: “The officer said his impression was it was flying.
“When the officer reviewed the footage it showed the vehicle was doing 145mph as it approached the Swarland junction at a time a blue agricultural vehicle and trailer began to exit the junction and cross the northbound carriageway to turn southbound.
“Because the defendant was approaching at such a fast speed, he had to brake heavily and effectively move around the agricultural vehicle at the last moment to stop a high speed collision.”
Four or five minutes later, O’Brien overtook an unmarked police car near Newton-on-theMoor while doing more than 120mph.
O’Brien, 32, of Alnmouth Road, Alnwick, was sentenced to a twoyear community order and a 12-months driving ban with a requirement he sits an extended test. He must also do a thinking skills programme.
Recorder Nolan asked his barrister, Tony Cornberg: “What was the big hurry?”
He replied: “I’ve not got to the bottom of that.
“He seems to have been in a situation where he knew he was speeding but not quite to the extent he was.”
The court heard O’Brien, who has worked off-shore, has lost his job as a result of not being able to drive.