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M40 Red‑Light Crash: Driver Gets Eight‑Year Ban, Suspended Sentence

Dashcam footage circulated by Thames Valley Police turned the case into a road-safety caution, drawing local anger over what many viewed as a lenient outcome.

Overview

  • Darren Marshall, 48, from Worthing, pleaded guilty at Aylesbury Crown Court to causing serious injuries by dangerous driving.
  • The sentence imposes an eight-year driving disqualification, a suspended prison term, and a requirement to pass an enhanced test before regaining a licence.
  • Dashcam footage shows Marshall accelerating off the M40 toward the Handy Cross roundabout, weaving through traffic and running a red light before hitting another car.
  • The collision on May 19, 2023, near High Wycombe left the occupants of the other vehicle with serious injuries.
  • Police issued a safety warning as the video, credited to Thames Valley Roads Policing/SWNS, circulated widely and residents criticised the punishment.