Driver jailed for head-on dual carriageway crash

A detective has criticised a 67-year-old driver who denied a dangerous driving charge following a head-on crash which left two people seriously injured.

Gary Sandford, of Ashfield Drive, Letchworth, Hertfordshire, was given a four-year jail sentence after jurors found him guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving following a trial.

Police said Sandford had driven his Mercedes on the "wrong side of the dual carriageway".

Det Con Boris Kahn, a member of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Serious Collisions Investigation Unit, described Sandford's driving as "unbelievably dangerous".

Police said Sandford had crashed late on 13 September 2024 on the A505 near Baldock, Hertfordshire.

"He passed many warning signs and road markings and ignored warnings from vehicles travelling the correct way," said police in a statement.

"After travelling a considerable distance on the wrong side of the road, he collided head on with a Ford."

The statement added: "Sandford caused serious injuries to both the 22-year-old driver of the Ford and to a 58-year-old woman who was the passenger in his Mercedes.

"He claimed to have only consumed a couple of pints but failed to provide a screening test for both drugs and alcohol as he claimed that he hadn't done anything wrong.

"He also said it was the driver of the car he collided with who was on the wrong side of the road."

Kahn added: "Sandford's driving was unbelievably dangerous.

"Despite the overwhelming evidence, he refused to accept responsibility for his actions.

"Sandford's reckless decision-making that night left two people with serious injuries and could very easily have resulted in fatalities.

"Throughout the investigation, and court proceedings, he showed no genuine remorse for the devastation he caused."

Sandford was given a four-year prison sentence on 23 September at a hearing in St Albans Crown Court.

A court official said Sandford had also been banned from driving for 10 years.

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