A young man who killed a motorcyclist due to a “stupid overtake” has been jailed for more than seven years.
Matthew Hull’s white Renault Clio Sport collided head-on with a motorbike ridden by Stephen Jackson.
Mr Jackson, who was 65, died at the scene.
It happened on the B1222 near Sherburn-in-Elmet on Bank Holiday Monday, 27 May 2024.
Hull’s car was entirely on the wrong side of the road when the crash happened.
A North Yorkshire Police investigation established that Hull initiated a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre prior to the collision. He crossed a solid white centre line marking on a stretch of road with limited visibility due to a hidden dip and crest.
Mr Jackson had been riding appropriately within his lane.
In interview, Hull, from Sherburn-in-Elmet, admitted that he had become impatient, and had made a “stupid overtake”.
When asked directly, he agreed that his driving had fallen far below the standard expected of a careful and competent driver, and that it was dangerous.
Earlier this month, he pleaded guilty at York Magistrates’ Court to causing death by dangerous driving.
Today (Monday) at York Crown Court, he was sentenced to seven years and four months in jail.
‘I lost my soulmate’
In a personal statement given to the court, Mr Jackson’s wife Janet Coster said: “I lost my husband, best friend, and soulmate in May 2024.
“The impact of that loss is impossible to measure. It has changed the very essence of who I am and has affected every part of my life.
“The love, guidance, and presence Steve would have continued to give as a husband, father, brother, and grandfather have been taken away forever.
“I live with grief every day and with a future that no longer resembles the one we planned together.
“No statement can fully convey the depth of what has been taken from me, but I hope this helps the court understand that the consequences of Steve’s death did not end on the day it happened – they continue, and they will continue for the rest of my life.”
TC Gemma Brett, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “This case was a tragic one. Because of an unnecessary, avoidable and dangerous manoeuvre, a man has lost his life.
“That single moment has resulted in profound and long-lasting devastation for Mr Jackson’s loved-ones.
“I hope all motorists will consider the circumstances of this collision: one wrong decision to overtake can have fatal consequences.
“You should only overtake when it is safe and legal to do so. If there is any doubt, or you cannot see far enough ahead to be sure it is safe, do not overtake. Road safety is paramount.”
