Northampton driver on drugs jailed after mother and child hurt

Northamptonshire Police said Warren was "fortunate his actions did not leave a family grieving for their loved ones"

A man who tested positive for cocaine after a crash which injured a mother and child has been jailed.

Jake Oliver Warren, 30, from Dunster Street, Northampton, admitted dangerous driving and driving while over the drug-drive limit.

Northamptonshire Police said he had been seen speeding away from traffic lights and hit a car head-on in October 2022.

Warren was sentenced to two years in prison.

On the evening of 20 October 2022, witnesses reported seeing Warren swerving in and out of traffic on Nene Valley Way in Northampton.

Police said he was swapping lanes and cutting in front of other cars at the Barnes Meadow Roundabout to get to the front of the queue for the traffic lights.

When the lights changed, he "sped off" and overtook a car on Rushmere Road without indicating before colliding head-on with a car driven by a woman who had her young child in the vehicle.

Warren helped both of the seriously-injured occupants from the car before lying down on the ground.

Warren was seen speeding away from the traffic lights at Barnes Meadown Interchange

Northamptonshire Police said he initially claimed to have fallen asleep at the wheel.

Officers carried out a roadside breath test and drug wipe.

Warren gave a negative reading for alcohol but tested positive for cocaine, and a blood sample was taken from him at Northampton General Hospital.

'Huge impact'

He pleaded guilty last year to two offences of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and one charge of drug-driving and returned to Northampton Crown Court for sentencing last month.

He was jailed for 28 months for dangerous driving and disqualified for 38 months for the drug-drive conviction.

The lead investigator, PC Nikki Hanwell, said: "This traumatic incident has had a huge impact on the lives of the female driver and her child, however, I hope that they can take some solace from the sentence.

"I also hope Warren is aware that, as result of his reckless use of the road, he was fortunate that his actions did not leave a family grieving for their loved one."