Banned driver crashes car into train in Newcastle (video)

Banned driver crashes into train in Newcastle (video)
Banned driver crashes into train in Newcastle (video)



A man who was banned from driving stole his brother's car and went through red lights - straight into a Metro train in Newcastle.

CCTV footage shows the moment Satwinder Singh was rammed by a Metro train after ploughing through red lights on a crossing at Bank Foot.

He had taken his brother's VW Golf to a dance performance at the Newcastle Falcons rugby ground in Kingston Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.



Singh had no insurance and was disqualified from driving at the time.

Friends in the car warned him about the train, but he didn't stop. He later said he had been distracted by people in the car turning on the radio.

According to the Daily Telegraph, a judge said it was amazing nobody was killed or seriously injured in the incident, which left the train company with a bill of £13,791 while the council had to pay £2,100.

Singh, 29, described as a talented dancer, has now been given a suspended prison sentence and unpaid work after admitting aggravated vehicle taking, careless driving, driving while disqualified, driving with no insurance, and failing to stop after an accident.

According to the Chronicle Live, recorder Paul Issacs, at Newcastle Crown Court, told Singh: "In so many respects you have so much going for you. You are clearly a talented dancer and you have a family who is supportive of you and wants to make sure you make something of your life.

"On the other hand you seem to have something of a death wish and you don't seem to be able to deal with cars in a legitimate way."

Singh, from Leicester, was given six months suspended for 12 months, 160 hours unpaid work, supervision, a £1,200 fine and was banned from driving for two years

Robin Patton, defending, said Singh had done a driving course after his last ban and mistakenly believed he could drive again without re-sitting his test.

Mr Patton said: "He was in an area he was unfamiliar with and was relying on his satnav. As he was following the satnav at a critical place, they wanted to operate the radio. He had it on navigation and someone turned on the radio so the screen changed at quite a critical time."



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