Shaken - a traffic cop's account of a drink drive crash

As part of our ongoing drink drug drive campaign which runs throughout December, Sgt Will Ayres from the Roads Policing Unit shares with us his account of arriving at the scene of a collision involving a drunk driver which shows the impact drink driving can have. An incident which has stayed with him.

 

“I was called to reports of a two vehicle head on collision.

“On my arrival the update from the other emergency services at the scene was that it was very much a life threatening collision. A car had collided head on with a lorry on a left hand bend.

“There were extensive efforts conducted by paramedics and fire crews to extract the female occupant of the car, who was then rushed to hospital.

“As part of the investigation blood was taken from the female driver of the car, this is standard practice as part of the collision investigation.  On examination the blood work showed 197 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The female driver was over the specified limit for alcohol and had got behind the wheel whilst intoxicated.

“The driver was issued £833 in fines, an order was made for them to carry out an alcohol treatment requirement of six months and they were disqualified from driving for 22 months.

“The collision was totally avoidable.

“There was a huge cost for all emergency services who attended.

“It required a detailed investigation from the forensic collision investigation unit, and meant the road was closed for multiple hours while the investigation took place.

“It was pure luck the driver survived the collision and no one else was hurt.

“It is something that will stay with me and no doubt with the driver of the lorry and with all the other emergency service workers that attended.

“ This all happened because of a deliberate act of drink driving.”

 

If you are worried that someone is driving under the influence of drink or drugs call 101 and select option 2 for the Drink Drive hotline, or make a report on the Wiltshire Police website.

In an emergency, dial 999.

You can report a crime completely anonymously to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111 or visit https://crimestoppers-uk.org/