20-year-old driver charged after 4x4 hits queue of traffic on the A61 near Thirsk

The crash took place last Friday (September 18) after police pursued the Mitsubishi Shogun from the A1(M) near Ripon to the A61 at Skipton on Swale, near Thirsk.

The 4x4 was spotted by officers travelling north between junctions 49 and 50 at around 10am, and the driver ignored signals to stop.

The Shogun left the A1(M) at junction 50 and continued along the A61 towards Thirsk while still being pursued.

It then collided with a vehicle in queuing traffic on the approach to the bridge outside Skipton on Swale, causing several other 'domino' collisions within the queue. The 4x4 then overturned.

Four other vehicles - a red Toyota Prius, a grey Renault Clio, a green Vauxhall Vivaro minibus and a silver Vauxhall Zafira - were damaged in the incident.

Three people also suffered serious injuries which required hospital treatment, including a 19-year-old man from Barnsley who was a passenger in the Shogun who fractured his pelvis. He was initially arrested but was later released without charge.

The 20-year-old driver, also from Barnsley, was also arrested.

An 80-year-old woman from Ripon, a passenger in the Prius, broke an ankle and a 35-year-old woman from Harrogate, in the Vivaro, injured an eye.

This stretch of the A61 remained closed until 2.15pm while the emergency services worked at the scene and for the vehicles to be safely recovered. Local diversions were in place throughout this time.

Following questioning in custody, the suspected driver of the Shogun was 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.

He appeared at York Magistrates’ Court on Monday morning.

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 dashcam 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, select option 2, and ask for the Major Collision Investigation Team or Steven James. Or email [email protected]. Please quote the incident reference number 12200163880 when providing information.