A21 crash: Hastings dangerous driver jailed for causing head-on crash

Jean Dias was at the wheel of a Land Rover when he smashed into a white Ford Fiesta.

The Fiesta driver, a 54-year-old man from Hastings, suffered life-changing injuries in the crash.

Dias, 44, claimed there must have been a vehicle fault that caused his car to veer to the right but an investigation found no defects.

Jean Dias has been disqualified from driving for five years (Image: Sussex Police)

The most likely cause of the collision was Dias being either distracted or driving in such a careless way for it to be reckless.

The crash happened on the A21 at Vinehall Street near Robertsbridge.

At Lewes Crown Court on April 19, Dias, formerly a company director of Sandown Way, Bexhill, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

He was jailed for two years and four months and has been disqualified from driving for five years.

The court was told the incident happened at about 5.15am on January 24 last year.

• READ MORE: Video shows dangerous Sussex driver 'flooring it' to evade police

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Footage showed Dias’s vehicle travelling on the wrong side of the road for at least ten seconds leading up to the impact.

Emergency services were called to the scene where the driver of the white Fiesta was trapped.

He had to be cut free from the wreckage and has suffered life-changing injuries.

He has been unable to walk unaided since the collision and continues to struggle with simple everyday tasks, which has affected both his and his family’s lives.

The scene of the crash on the A21 (Image: Sussex Police)

Sergeant Vicki Rees from the Roads Policing Unit said: “The victim’s life has been changed immeasurably as a result of this collision.

“It illustrates the danger of not paying full attention when you’re behind the wheel.

“We may never know the full reason why Dias was on the wrong side of the road but it was most likely a significant and prolonged lapse in concentration.

“Dias is fortunate that this collision did not lead to the death of the driver in the Ford Fiesta or to more serious harm for himself and other road users.

“Throughout April my colleagues across the Roads Policing Unit have been carrying out additional patrols to raise awareness of the ‘fatal five’ factors which cause people to be killed or seriously injured on our roads.

“Those factors are driving at excess or inappropriate speed, drink or drug-driving, not wearing a seatbelt, driving while distracted such as using a mobile phone, and driving in a careless, antisocial or dangerous manner as in this case.

“This case shows the devastating consequences this kind of poor driving can have and shows our determination to fully investigate to ensure offenders are brought to justice.”