Man jailed for minibus crash on wrong side of road

Emily Ford
BBC News
Man drives minibus on wrong side of A30 Sherborne Road and collides with car

A man has been jailed for four years after driving a minibus on the wrong side of the road and causing a crash.

The moment the Ford Transit minibus collided with a Toyota Yaris on the A30 Sherborne Road in September 2023, was captured on a dashcam.

Minibus driver, Benjamin Foster, 35 of Yeovil, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving offences and not holding a valid licence or insurance.

Dorset Police said three people were taken to hospital with serious injuries following the crash.

A force spokesperson explained Foster had been driving along the A30 road at Purse Caundle and was crossing into a filter lane as if to turn right, before continuing onwards towards oncoming traffic.

The minibus then collided with the red Toyota Yaris and a Volkswagen Polo collided into the back of the Yaris soon after.

A man in his 60s was taken to hospital by air ambulance with serious injuries.

Another man and a woman, both aged in their late teens, were taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Dorset Police Benjamin Foster looks directly at the camera for his police mugshot. He has short dark blonde hair and a short beard.Dorset Police
Benjamin Foster was jailed for four years after the crash seriously injured three people

Foster appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court on Wednesday. He was sentenced to four years in prison and disqualified from driving for seven.

PC Adam Carr said: "Foster's dangerous driving and failure to have a valid licence and insurance showed utter contempt for both the law and the victims who sustained serious injuries due to his reckless actions.

"We continue to urge motorists to make sure they have a valid licence and insurance to ensure they can drive legally on Dorset roads."

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