Driver jailed after ‘stupid overtake’ led to fatal head-on crash killing motorcyclist
A driver has been jailed after carrying out a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre that led to a fatal head-on crash with a motorcyclist.
On the afternoon of May 27, 2024, police responded to reports of a crash near Sherburn-in-Elmet.
The incident took place on the B1222 and involved a white Renault Clio Sport driven by Matthew Hull, which crashed head-on into a motorcycle ridden by Stephen Jackson.
Mr Jackson, 65, died at the scene.
A North Yorkshire Police investigation found that Hull, 22, had initiated a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre prior to the crash, a court heard.
This was in contravention of a solid white centre line marking, on a stretch of road with limited visibility due to a hidden dip and crest.
Hull’s car was entirely in the wrong lane when the crash occurred, the court heard, and Mr Jackson had been riding appropriately and within his lane.
In an interview, Hull, from Sherburn-in-Elmet, admitted that he had become impatient, and had made a “stupid overtake”.
When asked directly, he agreed that his driving had fallen far below the standard expected of a careful and competent driver, and that it was dangerous, a court was told.
On March 4, 2026, at York Magistrates Court he pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.
On Monday (Mar 30), at York Crown Court, he was sentenced to seven years and four months in jail.
TC Gemma Brett, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “This case was a tragic one. Because of an unnecessary, avoidable and dangerous manoeuvre, a man has lost his life. That single moment has resulted in profound and long-lasting devastation for Mr Jackson’s loved-ones.
“I hope all motorists will consider the circumstances of this collision: one wrong decision to overtake can have fatal consequences. You should only overtake when it is safe and legal to do so.
“If there is any doubt, or you cannot see far enough ahead to be sure it is safe, do not overtake. Road safety is paramount.”
In a personal statement given to the court, Mr Jackson’s wife Janet Coster said the loss changed the “very essence” of her life
The statement said: “I lost my husband, best friend, and soulmate in May 2024.
“The impact of that loss is impossible to measure. It has changed the very essence of who I am and has affected every part of my life.
“The love, guidance, and presence Steve would have continued to give as a husband, father, brother, and grandfather have been taken away forever.
“I live with grief every day and with a future that no longer resembles the one we planned together.
“No statement can fully convey the depth of what has been taken from me, but I hope this helps the court understand that the consequences of Steve’s death did not end on the day it happened – they continue, and they will continue for the rest of my life.”