Eriswell – Man charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving

A 29-year-old man has appeared at court and has been charged in connection with a road traffic collision in Eriswell in 2022, where two police officers sustained serious injuries.

The incident occurred before 1:10am on Sunday 25 September 2022 on the B1112 and involved two vehicles - a grey BMW X5 and white Peugeot 308 marked police car.

Several police units, fire, ambulance crew and a volunteer paramedic from Suffolk Accident Rescue Service (SARS) were all in attendance to the incident.

The driver and passenger of the Peugeot 308, two male police officers, were taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital having sustained injuries that were considered, at the time, to be potentially life-threatening.

The driver of the BMW was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving; and driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs.

He was initially taken to West Suffolk Hospital as a precaution, before being transported to Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre for questioning, and subsequently released on police bail.

Seth Ray, of Harebell Road in Red Lodge, appeared at Ipswich Magistrates Court on Monday, 19 February 2024, where he was charged with two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

He was also charged with one count of driving with excess alcohol and one count of using a motor vehicle in a condition likely to cause danger of injury at an earlier hearing.

The case has been adjourned to Ipswich Crown Court on 19 March 2024.

One of the injured police officers returned to work in September 2023; the other is continuing with rehabilitation for his injuries.