Driver Sentenced to Jail for Fatal Collision with Motorcyclist

Christopher Donnison, a 40-year-old resident of Gateshead, has received a 16-month jail sentence after being responsible for the death of a grandfather. Donnison was involved in a collision with motorcyclist John Wood on the A1 in Newcastle during September 2021. According to Northumbria Police, Donnison departed the crash site but was apprehended by officers shortly thereafter. He admitted guilt to the charge of causing death by careless driving, resulting in his imprisonment and the imposition of a 20-month driving prohibition at Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday. Donnison had initially entered a guilty plea to the offense in July, at which time he was issued a temporary driving ban. The collision occurred on the A1 northbound carriageway, approximately 984ft (300m) from the A69 slip road near Denton Burn. Police reported that Mr. Wood, aged 62 and from Blyth, was declared deceased at the location of the incident. The avid motorcyclist had recently concluded a 15-day vacation, covering thousands of miles throughout France and Spain, and was on his way back home at the time of his death. A statement from Mr. Wood’s wife was presented by the judge during the court proceedings. She stated: “Birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas are a struggle without John but I think Father’s Day is the hardest knowing my children can’t see their dad on what was always a special time for them all.” Sergeant Dave Roberts commented that Mr. Wood’s demise was “completely preventable.” He added: “This incident shows how the senseless and irresponsible actions of one person can bring total devastation to countless lives.”