Dangerous driver seriously injured young people in Widnes crash

Anthony Campbell has been jailed for the horror crash in Widnes after being seen running away from the scene. The collision occurred months after the dad walked free from court with a suspended sentence after a motorbike chase with police. The 26-year-old appeared before Liverpool Crown Court, via video link from HM Prison Liverpool, to be sentenced after admitting three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

He also pleaded guilty to charges of driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, failing to stop after a collision and breach of a suspended sentence. The court heard how the crash occurred on Birchfield Road in Widnes, heading towards Kingsway, at around 11.45pm on October 11. A black Mercedes AMG A45 driven by Campbell was in collision with a grey Audi A1, which had three occupants aged 18, 21 and 23.

The Audi was struck to the side and into a lamppost, while travelling through a green traffic light, by the Mercedes, which was travelling at up to 70mph and ran through a red light. The occupants of the Audi were taken to hospital with serious injuries, with the rear seat passenger suffering a bleed on the brain and a broken spine, collarbone and ribs. He also had a fit while unconscious.

A front-seat passenger sustained two pelvic fractures and requires help with day-to-day tasks, while the driver suffered a broken pelvis and nose. Campbell, who suffered minor injuries, fled the scene of the collision on foot and called Cheshire Police hours later to say he was the driver of the Mercedes and would hand himself in on the Monday, but he was tracked down by officers to a hotel in Liverpool and arrested. It was revealed that he had been given a suspended prison sentence and driving ban months earlier in April for dangerous driving after a motorbike chase with police in which he continued to drive after his tyres had been punctured by a stinger.

For the October incident, Campbell, of Abbey Close in Widnes, was jailed for three years and four months. He was also disqualified from driving for four years and four months and must pass an extended driving test before getting behind the wheel again. The sentence was welcomed by sergeant Russ Sime, of Cheshire Police, who said: "The fact that he was already disqualified from driving when he crashed into the other car and left the scene leaving three women badly injured shows his disregard for others and the law.

"I hope that he now understands the impact of his actions."