Red Lodge man jailed after Lakenheath crash injuring police

Seth Ray, of Harebell Road in Red Lodge, appeared in Ipswich Crown Court on Wednesday and was sentenced to two years and eight months imprisonment and disqualified from driving for four years and four months.

At 1.10am on Sunday, September 25 2022, Ray was driving a grey BMW on the B1112 Eriswell Road in Lakenheath when he collided head on with a marked police car responding to an emergency incident with blue lights.

The officers were seriously injured, which were considered to be potentially life-threatening at the time.

When emergency services arrived, one of the injured officers said the BMW Ray was driving was on the wrong side of the road.

Detective Inspector Dave McCormack said: “The lives of the victims have been changed immeasurably as a result of this collision.

“One of the injured police officers returned to work in September 2023 but is expected to require knee ligament surgeries; the other is not yet well enough to return to work and is continuing with rehabilitation for his injuries.

“We may never know the full reason why Ray was on the wrong side of the road, but it is every motorist’s responsibility to drive with proper care and attention.

“Any lapse in concentration, whether that be through tiredness or being distracted, can have significant consequences.”

Seth Ray was sentenced to just under three years at Ipswich Crown Court on Wednesday. (Image: Suffolk Police) The 29-year-old assisted the officers by pulling them from the police car, along with members of the public who arrived after the collision providing first aid.

Ray had pleaded guilty previously to two charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Both officers were taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital.

Ray was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and driving with excess alcohol after providing a roadside breath test which confirmed he had had alcohol before the collision but was below the legal limit.

Police dashcam footage prior to the collision showed headlights from an oncoming vehicle, appearing to be on the wrong side of the road.

CCTV recordings of the local area and approach to the collision scene also showed a similar size and type of vehicle to the BMW Ray was driving travelling over the central white line.

The BMW was taken for examination and several defects were noted, including tire damage.

It is not thought the defects caused the collision, but analysis from Ray's phone indicated he was aware of the defects.

On November 16, 2022, Ray was further arrested on suspicion of using a motor vehicle in a condition likely to cause danger or injury and later charged. This charge was left to lay on file.