Bromley Cross man jailed for St Peter’s Way crash after police chase

Mason Crossley, 21, was in the dock to be sentenced for dangerous driving causing serious injury, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

In the evening of March 10, 2024, police spotted Crossley’s black Skoda Octavia as he was refuelling at the Shell service station on Bury Road in Breightmet.

Andrew Mackintosh, prosecuting, said Crossley “quickly turned his back” to the patrolling officers as they passed, which raised their suspicions.

After checking the Octavia’s registration, they found it had no insurance and began to follow the vehicle.

Police dashcam footage played in Bolton Crown Court during the hearing on Monday (April 13) shows Crossley’s car slow down and stop at a junction after being signalled by police.

But seconds after the officer’s car stops – the then-18-year-old accelerates and speeds off, starting a police chase.

Mr Mackintosh said that the police had seen “at least two passengers” and at one point in the footage the car slowed down for one of the back seat passengers to open the door and run off.

Mr Mackintosh said Crossley, of Rosehill Close, had sped through one red light at 60mph causing a van “to brake heavily” and another red at 86mph.

Crossley is then seen to drive the wrong way up an exit slip road onto St Peter’s Way before crashing into a black BMW on entering the dual carriageway.

The crash left Crossley and a BMW driver with serious injuries (Image: Public)

Mr Mackintosh said the driver of the BMW spent four-and-a-half weeks in hospital after suffering multiple broken bones, including seven broken ribs and breaking both feet.

The driver’s wife, who was in the front passenger seat, luckily did not suffer any serious injuries.

In a statement dated July 21, 2024, the BMW driver said: “This incident happened four months ago and I’m still significantly suffering now – I can still hear my wife screaming.”

He said he was unable to work after the crash and “missing out on valuable time” he could be spending with his daughters and grandchildren.

He said: “This is precious time I will never get back”.

Crossley, who was found to be six times the legal limit for a breakdown product of cocaine and 14 times the legal limit for ketamine, suffered a skull fracture and was diagnosed with a severe brain injury.

A year later – on March 30, 2025 – police began following a white Vauxhall Astra after the driver was seen not wearing a seatbelt.

A video of the incident was also played to the courtroom showing the driver speeding away from police through residential streets in Bradshaw.

Mason Crossley (Image: GMP)

Mr Mackintosh said that the Astra had “reached speeds of approximately 100mph” in the chase and “due to the speed of the vehicle, the pursuit had to be abandoned”.

He said the car was later found abandoned on Back Longsight – and CCTV footage showed Crossley leaving the vehicle.

He was interviewed by police and read a prepared statement that said he didn’t own a Vauxhall Astra – and though his parents had, it had been sold.

David James, defending, said that since going into custody on January 30, 2026, Crossley’s family feel his recovery from his brain injury has “regressed”.

Mr James said: “The greatest concern is recovery – traumatic brain injuries are in many ways an unknown and the point around the two-year mark is of great concern.

“Where one is then can be where one is fixed.

“The concern is Mr Crossley was on a programme of therapy with the neurologist dealing with his recovery and being put in a prison environment has curtailed that absolutely.”

Recorder Karen Ridge, addressing Crossley in the dock, said: “You are aware that your dangerous driving is directly responsible for the accident – in addition, you caused yourself serious injuries including a traumatic brain injury.

The crash left Crossley and a BMW driver with serious injuries (Image: Newsquest)

“It’s extremely regrettable that after suffering such serious injuries yourself, some 12 months later you made the poor decision to be involved in a police chase at 100mph.

“It’s extremely fortunate on that occasion you and other road users weren’t injured in that pursuit.”

She said she considered the medical reports before her, but put “more reliance” on the neurologist’s report from October 15, 2025.

The neurologist said Crossley’s “engagement with services has been inconsistent over the last 12 months”.

Ms Ridge jailed Crossley for a total of 26 months and disqualified him from driving for three years after his sentence is complete.