A dangerous driver caused a head-on crash by driving on the wrong side of the on the A21 at Vinehall Street near Robertsbridge.
Jean Dias, 44, was at the wheel of a Land Rover when he smashed into a white Ford Fiesta while he was in the wrong carriageway.
The crash left the driver of the Ford Fiesta, a 54-year-old man from Hastings, with life-changing injuries. More than a year later, he still cannot walk unaided.
Dias claimed there must have been a vehicle fault that caused his car to veer to the right. But an investigation found no vehicle defects.
The most likely cause of the collision was Dias being either distracted or driving in such a careless way for it to be reckless.
Careless and dangerous driving are major factors in causing death and serious injury on our roads.
At Lewes Crown Court last Friday (19 April), Dias formerly a company director, of Sandown Way, Bexhill, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
He was jailed for two years and four months by Judge Martin Huseyin. Dias was also banned from driving for five years.
The court was told how the incident happened on the A21 at about 5.15am on Tuesday 24 January last year.
Footage showed Dias’s vehicle travelling on the wrong side of the road for at least 10 seconds leading up to the impact.
Emergency services were called to the scene where the driver of the white Ford Fiesta was mechanically trapped.
The victim had to be cut free from the wreckage and has suffered life-changing injuries.
He has been unable to walk unaided since the collision and continues to struggle with simple everyday tasks which has affected his life and that of his family.
Sergeant Vicki Rees, from the Roads Policing Unit, said: “The victim’s life has been changed immeasurably as a result of this collision.
“It illustrates the danger of not paying full attention when you’re behind the wheel.
“We may never know the full reason why Dias was on the wrong side of the road but it was most likely a significant and prolonged lapse in concentration.
“Dias is fortunate that this collision did not lead to the death of the driver in the Ford Fiesta or to more serious harm for himself and other road users.
“Throughout April my colleagues across the Roads Policing Unit have been carrying out additional patrols to raise awareness of the ‘fatal five’ factors which cause people to be killed or seriously injured on our roads.
“Those factors are; driving at excess or inappropriate speed, drink or drug driving, not wearing a seatbelt, driving while distracted such as using a mobile phone and driving in a careless, anti-social or dangerous manner as in this case.
“This case shows the devastating consequences that this kind of poor driving can have and shows our determination to fully investigate to ensure offenders are brought to justice.”
