A driver speeding in North Shields crashed, seriously injuring two children in another car. He was jailed and banned from driving.
Scott Atkinson, who is thirty, worked at Nissan. On October 30, 2022, this happened in Jarrow. He crashed on Priory Road, driving about 59 mph in a 30 mph zone.
The crash happened around 6 p.m. The other driver saw headlights coming toward her, thinking she had time to turn right.
Atkinson’s car hit her car’s side hard, causing her car to spin around. Two young kids were in the back of her car.
The judge said the woman feared the children were dead and that her car would catch fire. Atkinson was driving home from work. He worked hard to pay off his debt, holding two jobs at Nissan and delivering for Amazon. He rushed to see his daughter before bed.
According to the judge, his speed was the main problem, as he drove way over the speed limit, going at least twice as fast as he should have been. The road was damp and near a junction, and it was dark, so the street lights were on.
The judge stated that Atkinson drove too fast and was way too tired for the road conditions that evening. The woman did not realize his high speed.
One child broke a hand and pelvis in the crash, while the other fractured his eye socket. They were in rough shape, with one having a cut eyelid and a swollen head.
The woman has flashbacks now and cannot travel far anymore. One child has bad dreams, and the other is unable to speak about it, demonstrating changes in their behavior.
In his defense, the court heard that Atkinson felt sorry and was called a “loving parent.” This incident was deemed out of character for him.
Atkinson admitted causing serious injury while driving poorly and will be in jail for 29 months. He cannot drive for 62 months.