Driver who overtook a car and two lorries caused head-on crash on Shropshire border

Richard Darren Evans, 47, was driving on the A483 near Aberbechan, Newtown, on January 1 when he tried to overtake a car and two articulated lorries, Welshpool Magistrates Court heard yesterday.

As the road created a hill he saw a car being driven by Shah Alam coming towards him and was unable to move out of the way, Mrs Helen Tench, prosecuting, said.

"He overtook where the road markings were a solid white line," she said.

"It was late in the evening and he stated it was as he was approaching the brow of the hill other road users could see the headlights of an incoming vehicle and there was a head-on collision.

"The driver of the other vehicle suffered serious injuries - three rib fractures, a six inch laceration to the head down to the skull and cuts to his hands and fingers. He was unable to work for several months."

The court heard that Evans had been travelling from his home in Cwmbwnla, Swansea, to his uncle's home in Liverpool.

He admitted a charge of dangerous driving during the hearing. He said he had been following the directions on his sat nav which had indicated that it was safe to overtake on that section of road.

Magistrates adjourned the case for two weeks for reports to be prepared.

They indicated they may send the case to the crown court for sentencing at the next hearing.

Evans was given an interim disqualification from driving pending sentencing.