Van driver crashed into police car during high-speed chase

A van driver has admitted crashing into a police car during a high-speed pursuit.

James Wright ploughed into the back of the vehicle on the M9 near Falkirk, Stirlingshire, on April 24, 2020.

The 32-year-old had earlier gone at excessive speeds and drove through a roundabout on the wrong side of the road.

Wright now faces a lengthy custodial sentence after pleading guilty to dangerous driving.

The construction worker also admitted assaulting police officers Andrew Purdie and William Bregulla to the danger of their lives.

Wright, who has previous convictions for violence and road traffic offences, initially faced an attempted murder charge.

The High Court in Glasgow was told police were alerted to a suspect in an unrelated matter driving a silver Ford Transit van.

Officers clocked Wright and activated their blue lights and sirens for him to stop but he sped off.

Prosecutor Angela Gray said: The police officers got back into their vehicle and began a pursuit of Wright.

“Wright accelerated away, driving at around 80mph in a 30mph zone.

“Wright drove the wrong way around a roundabout at high speed, turning onto the A9.”

Wright reached speeds of 90mph as he swerved in front of a HGV vehicle causing the driver to take evasive action to avoid a collision.

Officers positioned themselves ahead of Wright as he continued to race towards them on the M9.

Ms Gray added: “Wright was travelling in excess of 70mph on the outside lane of the M9 when he deliberately rammed the police vehicle from behind causing damage to the offside rear wheel arch, rear door and offside wing mirror.

“PC Purdie managed to maintain control of the police vehicle and estimated that the impact occurred when the police vehicle was travelling at approximately 80mph.

“Wright lost control of his van and rotated around the front of the police vehicle, leaving the road, and crashing into a grouping of trees next to the hard shoulder.”

Wright, a father-of-two, was then arrested.

Judge Lord Arthurson told him: “I regard this as extremely serious and this is offending where custody is inevitable.”

Sentence was deferred until next month and Wright was disqualified from driving in the interim.