Dangerous driver who killed friend and seriously injured others is jailed for 12 years

A dangerous driver from Mansfield Woodhouse killed one of his best friends and injured other people including himself after causing a catastrophic three-car pile-up

William Martin was driving a yellow Seat, with two friends in the car, when he crossed to the wrong side of the road to overtake slower moving traffic heading southbound on the A614 Blyth Road at Ollerton. 

Moments later the 23-year-old crashed almost head-on into a Toyota, travelling northbound, which had moved into a filter lane intending to turn right into Whitewater Lane.

The Seat left the road and overturned in a ditch. 

Its front seat passenger, Martin’s 22-year-old friend, Adam Sissons, sadly died at the scene. 

Another of his friends on the back seat, a 23-year-old man, also suffered a fractured sternum and bruised lung. 

The driver and front seat passenger in the Toyota also sustained serious injuries. 

The driver, a 33-year-old woman, was taken to the Queen’s Medical Centre with suspected life-altering injuries including multiple fractures which required surgery.

The front seat passenger, a 19-year-old woman, had to be freed from the vehicle by the fire and rescue service and was also taken to hospital.

Her injuries again included multiple fractures which required surgery.

An eight-week-old baby was secured in his car seat in the back of the Toyota at the time of the collision. Miraculously he only sustained minor injuries, which is largely due to the safety and security the car seat provided.

A Volkswagen Caddy Maxi, heading northbound at the time, was also involved in the collision caused by Martin.

A 65-year-old woman, who was in the front passenger seat, had to be rescued from the vehicle by the fire and rescue service. She sustained fractured ribs and a fracture to her right ankle and required surgery. 

Her 66-year husband, who was driving, sustained minor injuries and was later discharged the same day. 

Martin himself suffered a fracture to his leg, which required hospital admission and surgery, following the collision which happened around 5.30pm on 8 September 2023. He was arrested at the scene. 

When he was later interviewed, Martin told police that his dangerous driving at the time was due to a Porsche travelling close behind him which he was fearful of. 

Through interrogating data from Martin's and the Porsche driver's mobile phones, it was determined the Porsche was a considerable distance behind the Seat at the time of the collision.

Additionally, despite witness evidence stating the Seat and Porsche had been racing in the lead up to the collision, the mobile phone evidence did not corroborate this.  

Martin, of Woodhouse Court, Mansfield Woodhouse, was subsequently charged and he went on to plead guilty to one count causing death by dangerous driving and four counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. 

He was sentenced to 12 years in prison when he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday (16 September). 

Martin was also banned from driving for 13 years and must pass an extended driving re-test before he is eligible to drive again.  

The court heard that Martin had been driving dangerously for a period of two kilometres prior to the collision. His speed was calculated at an average of 87mph over this distance - the speed limit is 60mph. 

The speed he was travelling at the time of impact is not known. 

Case investigator Louise Melbourne, of Nottinghamshire Police’s serious collision investigation unit, said: “A young man sadly lost his life and others suffered potentially life-altering injuries as a direct result of Martin’s dangerous driving that day. 

“Our thoughts remain with his devastated family and friends and all those who were impacted by Martin’s reckless decisions and actions. 

"This tragic case is a cruel reminder of the life-shattering consequences that can happen through dangerous driving, and it is crucial lessons are learned from this so that other lives aren’t lost in such circumstances. 

"Not only will Martin now be serving time behind bars, but he has also condemned the family of one of his best friends to a life sentence without their loved one."

She added: "I pass on thanks from the investigation team, and those involved in the events of that day, to all emergency services workers who attended the scene.

"Personnel from police, fire and rescue, East Midlands Ambulance Service and the air ambulance worked together at an incredibly difficult and complex scene to extract casualties from the vehicles and provide emergency first aid, while also capturing key evidence which has assisted in this conviction.

“No sentence can make up for the harm and suffering Martin has caused, but I hope all those affected by his actions can now find some degree of closure now he has been put behind bars.

“I also hope this sad case acts as a reminder to other motorists of just how utterly devastating it can be if you choose to disobey the rules of the road and drive in a dangerous manner.”