A 78-year-old motorist who left a teacher with serious injuries after losing control of his car on the A65 while heading towards Gargrave has admitted careless driving.

David Jager, in a letter to Skipton Magistrates’ Court, admitted driving without due care and attention on October 12 last year.

In his letter to court, Jager admitted driving his Hyundai Coupe at around 70mph and losing control on bends of the unfamiliar road.

His car left the road and hit a Volkswagen Polo containing an assistant headteacher who was travelling towards Skipton from Settle.

Prosecuting, Caroline Midgley read out a statement from the teacher, which described how the Hyundai had come around a bend in mid-air and was on its roof when it had made contact.

One woman had been able to get out, but the teacher had to be cut out by emergency services and was taken to Airedale Hospital before being transferred to Leeds General Infirmary.

She spent ten days in the major trauma unit. Her injuries were a shattered elbow and femur and lacerated liver and her treatment has included plate surgery and four days of total immobility to allow her liver to repair.

Jager, who was interviewed in hospital by police, said he was unfamiliar with the road and believed he had been travelling at around 70mph. He also said the engine light on his car had been on, but that it appeared to be driving all right.

Magistrates, who described the accident as “horrific”, adjourned sentencing.

They said Jager, of Tudor House, Westgate, Southwell, Nottingham, must attend the hearing on Friday, April 11.