A "LUNATIC" motorist is being hunted by police after dramatic footage emerged of dangerous driving which caused an accident at one of the district's notorious road crash blackspots.

The video clip captures the driver of a black Audi overtaking numerous cars on the narrow, up-and-down and winding Otley Road in East Morton, and causing a collision between two vehicles coming the other way as the driver of one was forced to take evasive action.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: A black Audi performed a series of dangerous overtaking manoeuvres on Otley Road in East Morton, and nearly collided with oncoming traffic

The driver of a black Audi performs a series of dangerous overtaking manoeuvres in Otley Road, East Morton

The incident took place less than a mile from the scene of two fatal crashes that happened on the same road, next to Graincliffe Reservoir, in 2014.

Samuel Edson, 38, of Ilkley, and Christopher Crowther, 33, of Queensbury, were killed in crashes in April and October of that year, respectively.

Last year, the stretch of Otley Road on which the latest footage was captured was classed by Bradford Council as the 31st most dangerous in the district.

One of the drivers who crashed as a result of the Audi shown in the latest footage spoke to the Telegraph & Argus about the incident, which happened where a 20mph zone becomes a 50mph zone.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: A black Audi performed a series of dangerous overtaking manoeuvres on Otley Road in East Morton, and nearly collided with oncoming traffic

The Audi driver narrowly avoids a head-on crash

“This lunatic is a ticking time bomb and could easily cause death to someone,” said the 39-year-old man, who did not want to be named.

“I had a split-second choice - hit the van or be hit by the Audi that looked to be travelling 70mph-plus.”

The motorist added: “I just think he was incredibly dangerous, to be honest. He has overtaken about eight or nine cars.

“He didn’t care for his own life, never mind anyone else’s.

“Police said they had reports of an Audi driving erratically ten minutes before I had the accident. Someone had seen it before, but it was still free to do it.”

Sergeant Adrian Newman, of West Yorkshire Police, viewed the footage and described it as “a very poor piece of driving which could have ultimately resulted in something far worse”.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: A black Audi performed a series of dangerous overtaking manoeuvres on Otley Road in East Morton, and nearly collided with oncoming traffic

The Audi driver narrowly avoids the van

Councillor Abdul Jabar, Bradford Council's executive member for neighbourhoods and community safety, said: "Dangerous driving can wreck lives and devastate families. People need to think about their actions every time they get behind the wheel."

Councillor Malcolm Slater (Lab, Keighley East), whose ward includes East Morton, condemned the driver responsible and said he was shock that such a dangerous manoeuvre could be carried out on that particularly tight stretch of uphill road.

“I am very sorry to hear that this has happened because it is absolutely horrendous and very dangerous,” he said.

“It is outrageous driving. I am shocked at the stupidity of it.”

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: A black Audi performed a series of dangerous overtaking manoeuvres on Otley Road in East Morton, and nearly collided with oncoming traffic

The van driver is forced to take evasive action resulting in a car following to crash into it

A spokesman for the road safety charity Brake said: "It's clear that this example of selfish and dangerous driving could have had severe consequences. Rural roads are often narrow, with many bends, blind corners and hidden junctions, which this driver makes no allowances for.

"It is hard to imagine why anyone would take this kind of risk and show no consideration for other road users. Reckless drivers must be caught and punished, and our police forces must be given the resources to allow them to do this."

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman added: “Police were called about a road traffic collision in Otley Road, Bingley, at about 5.50pm on April 21, where a passing car had failed to stop.

"The caller provided the registration and details of the vehicle and these were relayed to traffic officers.

"No injuries were reported and the vehicle was not traced.

"Police later received a call from one of the drivers involved in the collision, who mentioned that a witness had footage of this vehicle which he was in the process of obtaining.

"The caller was advised to attend a police station with the footage, so a report could be prepared for further investigation."

Police want to hear from anyone who can help them find the driver of the Audi.

Anyone with information about the Audi and its driver, or any witnesses to the crash or the moments before it, can contact the Safer Roads and Neighbourhood Support team on 101, quoting log number 1541 of April 21.

The T&A’s Stop The Danger Driving campaign started last November due to increasing concerns about behaviour of a minority of drivers on the district’s roads and includes a ten-point charter for law changes.

It also inspired West Yorkshire Police to hold its Operation Steerside crackdown on illegal motorists in the Bradford district which has so far resulted in more than 2,000 drivers being caught.