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16
Oct
Pub worker who crashed on A1(M) near Wetherby Services was over the limit
A drink-driver crashed on the A1(M) near Wetherby Services after hitting a patch of water, a court heard.
Thomas Collier today (October 16) pleaded guilty to drink-driving in a case at Harrogate Magistrates Court.
Sarah Tyrer, prosecuting, told the court police received a report of a collision near junction 46 on the A1(M) shortly before 4am on September 28.
Police arrived at the scene near Wetherby Services to find a National Highways officer was already present.
The highways officer told police the car involved in the crash had left the road, collided with trees and rolled down an embankment, the court heard.
Collier, who was driving at the time, was not injured and was sitting in the front seat of a parked heavy-goods vehicle when police got to the scene.
Ms Tyrer said Collier, of Moorland Drive in the Moortown area of Leeds, told police he had been travelling in the third lane at the time when he “hit a patch of water”.
His car skidded and flipped over, before it collided with the trees.
The 25-year-old defendant said he had been driving home from work, but police could smell alcohol on him and requested a roadside breath test, which was positive.
Collier was taken to Harrogate Police Station, where he later recorded 50 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms.
The court heard Collier told police he had consumed “two-to-three pints” before getting behind the wheel, and said he lost control due to water on the road.
'This is a significant moment for him'
Mr Walsh, defending, told the court the defendant had been working at a pub near York on the night of the offence.
After finishing his 12-hour shift, he drank two pints of lager before driving home.
“Therein lies his big mistake”, Mr Walsh said.
He said the weather conditions were “poor” in the early hours of the morning when Collier was travelling on the A1(M) and his car overturned after hitting some water.
Collier showed remorse when he spoke to the police and pleaded guilty to the offence at the first opportunity, the court heard.
Mr Walsh added:
The real tragedy of this is that Mr Collier has gone from being a man of good character to having a conviction on his record. This is a significant moment for him.
Collier was ordered to pay a total of £891 to the court, comprising a £576 fine, a £230 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.
He was also banned from driving for 14 months, which would be reduced by 14 weeks if he completes a drink-drive awareness course.
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