Driver jailed over head-on smash

A Travel West Midlands bus driver who drove the wrong way along a dual carriageway and caused a head-on smash after a Christmas day boozing session has been jailed.

Harpinder Shocker, of Oldbury, crashed into a family travelling with a five-week-old baby.

He was jailed for a year when he appeared at Gloucester Crown Court yesterday after he admitted dangerous driving and being twice the legal alcohol limit.

Prosecutor Julian Kesner said Shocker had been celebrating Christmas with his family and had spent the morning at the pub after which he drank wine with his Christmas dinner and then whisky.

After a family argument broke out, Shocker, aged 35, got into his car and left the house, Mr Kesner said. Pamela Broughton was driving at 40mph along the outside lane of the A417 in Gloucestershire when she was overtaken by motorist Ian Sadler at 7.15pm on Christmas night.

"Mr Sadler started to pass but coming straight for him was Mr Shocker," Mr Kesner said. "It's hard to imagine a more terrifying scene."

Mr Sadler had his partner, their five-week-old daughter and his partner's father and brother in the car. He tried to avoid Shocker but the two vehicles collided, with Mr Sadler's side of the car bearing the brunt of the impact.

"All of them were wearing seatbelts," Mr Kesner said. "Ms Broughton just recalls Mr Sadler's car going across in front of hers at high speed."

Mr Sadler was knocked unconscious. He was pulled from the wreckage by his family.

He suffered a broken thigh bone and a fractured rib. His partner suffered cuts and bruises and her father and brother suffered whiplash injuries.

When he gave a blood sample for alcohol testing four hours after the accident, Shocker, of Merton Close, was still more than twice the legal limit.

Defending Shocker, Mr Jonathan Stanniland said his client, a married man with a nine-year-old son, had been a bus driver for Travel West Midlands for 10 years. He suffered a shattered pelvis and is still disabled by a knee injury.

Mr Stanniland said: "He will now lose his job and his good name. He has not drunk alcohol since and says he never will again

"He can't explain why, after 35 years of a crime-free life, he took to the roads in a moment of madness after an argument."

Judge Mark Horton said: "You chose, on Christmas Day, to put yourself in possession of the most dangerous weapon available to most members of the public."

"Had it not been for the very quick-thinking and able-driving of Mr Sadler, you might be appearing on the much more serious charge of dangerous driving causing death."

Shocker was also disqualified from driving for two years and will have to sit an extended test to regain the right to drive.