A DRIVER who seriously injured another motorist in a head-on collision has been jailed for more than a year.

Barrow man Aaron Hird collided with another car after he attempted to overtake four vehicles on a stretch of the A595.

At Preston Crown Court, Hird was jailed for 14 months and banned from driving for two years and seven months.

The victim of the collision, Philip Hatfield, said he was 'shocked' to hear of Hird being sent to prison.

"I'm flabbergasted.I wouldn't have liked to see him go to jail," he said.

"I'm sure he didn't plan it - he didn't go out to ruin anyone's lives.

"It was an act of insane recklessness though."

The 66-year-old, then of Barrow, was driving on the A595 with wife Anna near Duddon Bridge in July 2019.

Dashcam footage he recorded showed the moment Hird's car suddenly appeared in front of him.

Describing how the incident still affected the couple, who now live in Scotland, Mr Hatfield said: "We've still got some issues driving now.

"We have a nervousness on roads where we live, which are similar to where the collision happened."

He said Hird had apologised to him immediately after the collision and that police had told him that Hird was 'contrite' about the incident.

Hird, 29, of Westgate Road in Barrow, previously pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Mr Hatfield said he was thankful for the airbags in his car and that he and his wife 'couldn’t have come any closer to death'.

His injuries included five broken ribs, a fractured sternum, a sprained wrist and bruising to his chest.

At a previous hearing at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court, prosecutor Rachel Dixon told the court it happened around 1.15pm on July 28.

In mitigation, Hird’s solicitor Andy Gallagher said: “This defendant was carrying out an overtaking manoeuvre on a relatively long and straight stretch of road.

“However he accepts he didn’t take proper account of vehicles coming in the opposite direction." Mr Gallagher said Hird was apologetic.