Danger driver suffered serious injuries after ploughing into double decker bus head-on in Sunderland

Nathan Norman Dodds admitted dangerous driving and driving under the influence of alcohol when he appeared before South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.

The 21-year-old, of Freda Street, Southwick, also admitted driving without insurance and without a licence when the crash took place on August 8 at around 7pm.

The court heard how Dodds was on the wrong side of the road when he ploughed head-on into the front of the bus while driving his Yamaha motorbike on Keir Hardy Way in the city.

He broke his wrist and his clavicle, and it is not known if he will regain full use of his right arm.

Glenda Beck, prosecuting, said thankfully the bus driver and the passengers were uninjured, but there was extensive damage to the bus following the collision.

Dodds was taken to the RVI hospital in Newcastle and was found to have 136 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood with the limit being 80.

Ms Beck said one of the witnesses said shortly before the accident the motorbike had overtaken him at speed crossing into the opposite lane, where a car had to brake hard to avoid a collision.

She said: “He made a comment to his passenger that the rider was going to cause an accident or will kill himself through the manner in which he was driving.”

She said a second witness, who saw the crash, described the motorcycle as ‘flying’ along the road.

Reading from the statement, Ms Beck said: “It cut the junction so much it was on the wrong side of the road as it came into Southwick Road, straight into the bus. The bus driver had no chance.”

Jason Smith, defending, said luckily no-one was injured other than Dodds.

He said: “He was the only person who received any injuries. It is unlikely he is ever going to have full use of his right arm again.”

Dodds was banned from driving for two years and given a 12-month community order. He was also told to pay £85 costs and a £90 surcharge.