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4 months ago
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This is the shocking moment a driver swerves across a major road after wildly overtaking a lorry and smashes into a car coming the other way.
Norman Chai, 66, avoided jail for the dangerous driving incident which occurred on the A30 near Rawridge, Devon on November 26, 2022 and left four people alongside himself injured.
Exeter Crown Court heard how Chai was driving to Cornwall for a holiday accompanied by his wife and mother-in-law.
Despite wet driving conditions, Chai went to overtake a HGV and moved into a dedicated turning lane for opposing traffic.
Chai then pulled his vehicle back into his own lane before a central island, but in doing so lost control of his vehicle and 'fishtailed' across into the path of oncoming traffic before striking the front of an oncoming Mitsubishi.
Norman Chai, 66 (pictured in his vehicle with his family) driving on the A30 prior to the incident happening
Footage showing Chai overtaking the HGV on the A30 in Devon
Footage shows Chai trying to pull his vehicle back into his own lane on the road
The collision caused Chai's Vauxhall to rotate 180 degrees clockwise back into the westbound carriageway before coming to rest.
The Mitsubishi, unable to avoid Chai's vehicle, also rotated and came to rest.
A Kia Rio following the Mitsubishi was unable to avoid colliding with the driver's side of the Mitsubishi.
As a result of the collision, Chai, his wife and mother-in-law all suffered multiple lacerations & fractures.
The driver of the Mitsubishi also sustained fractures, as did the passenger of the Kia Rio following the Mitsubishi.
In an interview with police officers from Devon and Cornwall Police, Chai said that he believed he waited until there was enough room and time for him to overtake the HGV, but ended up losing control.
He added that with hindsight, he shouldn't have carried out the manoeuvre.
Chai from Woking in Surrey pleaded guilty to four causing serious injury by dangerous driving charges.
He was sentenced to two years in prison suspended for two years, tagged for three months and ordered to pay a £2,000 fine by Recorder James Bromige.
Chai moves across into the path of oncoming traffic after appearing to lose control of his vehicle
The incident caused Chai's Vauxhall to rotate 180 degrees clockwise back into the westbound carriageway
Chai struck the front of an oncoming Mitsubishi, causing significant damage to the vehicle
Chai was also banned from driving for three years and ordered to take an extended test.
Sergeant Troy Bennett of the Serious Collision Investigations Team said: 'Norman Chai's actions on the 26 November 2022 had catastrophic consequences.
'His illegal overtake contravened double solid white lines, he travelled through the filter lane for oncoming traffic and almost collided into a central traffic island before he lost control.
'This was done during heavy rain with wet roads and was a highly dangerous and egregious manoeuvre resulting in serious injuries to five people, including Chai himself, occupants of his own car, and those in the oncoming vehicles he struck.
'The dashcam footage of the collision released by us today demonstrates how quickly things can go devastatingly wrong when you drive dangerously.
'Devon and Cornwall Police are committed to reducing fatal and serious injury collisions on our roads and all drivers have a responsibility to drive carefully and appropriately.'
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