Terrifying moment driver, 70, crashes head-on with another car after falling asleep at the wheel

Terrifying moment driver, 70, crashes head-on with another car after falling asleep at the wheel and swerving across road

  • Vauxhall Astra driven by pensioner veers across A59 near York and Harrogate
  • Car then crashes into Nissan Note travelling in the opposite direction on road
  • Motorist, 70, admitted to falling asleep at the wheel and banned from driving

A pensioner crashed head-on with an oncoming car after he fell asleep at the wheel and swerved across the road in dramatic footage.

In the dashcam clip, a Vauxhall Astra driven by a 70-year-old man is seen veering into the opposite carriageway of the A59 between York and Harrogate.

A Nissan Note travelling in the opposite direction attempts to swerve as the car races across the road, but the Vauxhall Astra turns at the last second and the two collide.

The cars screech to a halt on different sides of the road as debris flies across the tarmac in the final seconds of the clip.

In the dashcam clip, a Vauxhall Astra driven by a 70-year-old man is seen veering into the opposite carriageway of the A59 between York and Harrogate

A woman in her 70s who was travelling in the Nissan Note suffered life-changing injuries and her husband, who was driving, was seriously injured in the crash. 

The dramatic collision took place on the A59 between York and Harrogate on February 20 last year, when the 70-year-old driver admitted falling asleep at the wheel. 

He told police that ten minutes before the accident he began falling asleep, but that he ‘slapped’ himself awake and continued driving as he wasn’t far from home. 

Following an investigation by North Yorkshire Police, the driver was charged with, and pleaded guilty to, causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The man was banned from driving for two years at York Crown Court. 

A Nissan Note travelling in the opposite direction attempts to swerve as the car races across the road, but the Vauxhall Astra turns at the last second and the two collide

A Nissan Note travelling in the opposite direction attempts to swerve as the car races across the road, but the Vauxhall Astra turns at the last second and the two collide

The two cars screech to a halt on different sides of the road as debris flies across the tarmac in the final seconds of the clip

The two cars screech to a halt on different sides of the road as debris flies across the tarmac in the final seconds of the clip

North Yorkshire Police released footage of the incident in order to warn other motorists about the dangers of driving when tired. 

Traffic Constable Joe Schramm, who investigated the collision, said: ‘Crashes involving tired drivers are often at high-speed, because the driver was asleep and did not brake at all, and so they can result in devastating injuries.

‘Even if you don’t fall asleep, driving while tired impairs your judgement, co-ordination and reaction time – so you may brake late or miss a hazard altogether. Driving tired is just not worth the risk.

‘All drivers who fall asleep at the wheel have a degree of warning, so there is simply no excuse. 

‘Please remember, at the first sign of tiredness, stop in a safe place, and take a break.’

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk