A highly decorated soldier has been sentenced by a court after his careless driving on the A66 between Keswick and Penrith left the passenger of another car badly hurt.
Jonathan Wood, 55, was travelling eastbound, at around 1.30pm on October 27 2023, when a collision happened close to Scales.
Carlisle Magistrates’ Court heard Wood was driving a Mercedes which initially overtook an HGV on a two-lane eastbound stretch, before returning to lane one.
Prosecutor Diane Jackson said the Mercedes drifted to the nearside, before moving into lane two and then across double white lines into the opposite carriageway.
Wood’s vehicle almost collided with a westbound Ford Transit van before continuing towards an oncoming Nissan Navara. The Navara driver managed to take some evasive action. Mrs Jackson said: “The two vehicles have collided but not head-on.”
In a statement, the Navara’s front seat passenger, Agnieszka Gasior, recalled that she was chatting with her partner, who was driving, when she saw the Mercedes. “I closed my eyes as I knew the vehicle was going to hit us,” she said.
Ms Gasior recalled their car spinning, squeaking loudly and being showered in glass. She was trapped inside the vehicle and had suffered four broken or dislocated ribs. “I did wonder at the time if I was still alive or if I was dead,” she stated.
Ms Gasior was transported to hospital and detained for four days. Her partner said seeing her trapped in their vehicle was horrific.
In court today, Wood — a man with no previous convictions — admitted causing her serious injury by careless driving.
The court heard he was a highly decorated soldier who joined the army in 1986 and gave distinguished service across the globe before being badly injured and, in 2005, medically discharged.
Mark Styles, mitigating, said Wood, of Grange, near Keswick, had an outstanding military career.
In addition he had, with others, founded the Hoplite charity to help the families of UK special forces soldiers. This had raised £20 million in total, with Wood alone raising £4 million.
Wood — who previously had an unblemished driving record — had personal experience of others’ motoring offences. While serving in Northern Ireland, he was in a vehicle which was hit by a drink-driver
The court heard Wood had expressed remorse for what happened to the Nissan occupants, and accept full responsibility.
“For his part, Mr Wood still is at a loss as to what exactly happened that afternoon,” Mr Styles said to magistrates. Wood was perfectly well that morning and had gone swimming in a lake near his home.
“He cannot explain just how the accident came about,” added Mr Styles. “He was probably distracted by something. He simply and honestly cannot remember what happened.”
Magistrates imposed a community order. Wood must complete 120 hours’ unpaid work and serve an 18-month driving ban.
