Driver jailed after wrong-way head-on crash on A505 near Baldock left two seriously injured
Gary Sandford drove the wrong way down a dual carriageway before hitting a Ford head-on
A driver who travelled the wrong way down a dual carriageway near Baldock before hitting another car head-on has been jailed.
Gary Sandford, a 67-year-old from Ashfield Drive in Letchworth, was sentenced to four years in prison at St Albans Crown Court.
The crash happened at around 10.50pm on 13th September 2024 on the A505, on the stretch running from Ashwell towards Letchworth.
The court heard Sandford drove his Mercedes on the wrong side of the dual carriageway, passing warning signs and road markings and ignoring warnings from vehicles travelling the correct way, which he narrowly missed.
After travelling a considerable distance on the wrong side of the road, he collided head-on with a Ford.
The crash left two people seriously hurt.
The 22-year-old driver of the Ford suffered internal bleeding in his stomach and pelvis, along with other injuries, and described himself as "very lucky".
A 58-year-old woman who was a passenger in Sandford's Mercedes suffered multiple broken bones and significant internal injuries, and remained in a medically induced coma for days.
She described the crash as having an "immeasurable effect" on her life.
Sandford claimed he had only had a couple of pints but failed to provide a screening test for both drugs and alcohol, saying he hadn't done anything wrong.
He also claimed it was the driver of the car he hit who was on the wrong side of the road.
He was charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen.
He pleaded not guilty but was convicted by a jury following a trial.
He was sentenced on Wednesday 23rd September, and was also given a 10-year driving ban and must take an extended re-test.
His Honour Judge Lennard said: "Sandford sought, and continues to seek, to minimise his actions that night. He fabricated his account, inventing evidence in an unsuccessful attempt to explain away witness evidence of his impairment."
The judge found no mitigating factors and determined Sandford was not suitable for community service.
Detective Constable Boris Kahn, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Serious Collisions Investigation Unit, said: "Sandford's driving was unbelievably dangerous. He was impaired by alcohol, yet despite the overwhelming evidence, he refused to accept responsibility for his actions and instead sought to blame an innocent motorist who was simply travelling on the correct side of the road."
He said: "Sandford's reckless decision-making that night left two people with serious injuries and could very easily have resulted in fatalities. Throughout the investigation and court proceedings, he showed no genuine remorse for the devastation he caused. He will now have time to reflect on his actions throughout his prison sentence."
He said: "Drink driving remains one of the most dangerous offences on our roads. Choosing to get behind the wheel while impaired puts not only your own life at risk, but the lives of everyone around you. We will continue to pursue offenders and do everything we can to make our roads safer."
Anyone with concerns about drink driving can call 999 if there is an immediate risk, or 101 to report information.
Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or through their online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.