A GRIMETHORPE man has been charged with an array of traffic offences following a police pursuit which left an 80-year-old woman with a broken ankle.
Billy Morrison, 20, appeared at York Magistrates’ Court on Monday morning after being charged in connection with a police pursuit which ended in a serious collision at Skipton-on-Swale near Thirsk.
Last Friday a navy blue Mitsubishi Shogun was spotted by North Yorkshire Police’s roads policing group officers travelling north on the A1 at around 10am.
Police tried to stop the vehicle but it left the A1 at junction 50, continuing towards Thirsk with officers still in pursuit.
The Shogun collided with a vehicle in queuing traffic which subsequently caused multiple collisions within the queue - the four-by-four also overturned.
Four vehicles other than the Shogun were damaged during the incident - a red Toyota Prius, a grey Renault Clio, a green Vauxhall Vivaro and a silver Vauxhall Zafira.
Three people suffered serious injuries which required hospital treatment - including a 19-year-old Barnsley man in the Shogun who fractured his pelvis - he was initially arrested by North Yorkshire Police but then later released without charge.
An 80-year-old woman - a passenger in the Prius - broke her ankle and a 35-year-old woman injured her eye.
The stretch of road remain closed until 2.15pm while the emergency services worked at the scene.
Morrison was then questioned in custody and then charged with two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, dangerous driving, failing to stop for the police, driving whilst disqualified, driving without insurance and failing to provide a specimen of blood for analysis regarding suspected drink-driving.
Following his York Magistrates’ Court date, Morrison has been remanded in custody and will appear at York Crown Court on October 26.
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: “As is standard practice for collisions that have involved a police pursuit, the incident has been voluntarily referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
“Police are continuing to appeal for people to come forward who witnessed the collision or anyone who may have seen the navy blue Mitsubishi Shogun prior to the incident including the police pursuit.
“Anyone with dash-cam footage that may have captured the vehicle are asked to retain the footage and get in touch with the police as soon as possible.
“If you can help, please contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting the incident reference number 12200163880 when providing information.”
