Terror as drugged driver rolls car

Friends trapped inside, court hears

A DRIVER high on drugs careered out of control, rolling the car right over and trapping himself and three friends inside.

The drama, which mercifully involved no other vehicles, happened on Island Farm Road, Burghfield.

In the dock at West Berkshire Magistrates’ Court on Monday, January 7, was 23-year-old Luke Devlin Green of Recreation Road, Burghfield Common.

Jennifer Riddell, prosecuting, said: “Around 11pm, emergency services were called to a single vehicle accident in which the driver failed to stop at a crossroads, hitting roadside furniture before carrying across a junction and overturning the vehicle, which came to rest on its side on the opposite side of the road.

“The four occupants were trapped and were treated both at the scene and at hospital.”

She said a sample taken from Mr Green at the hospital showed 65mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood – less than the legal limit of 80mg.

But it also showed 4.5mg of the Class B controlled drug, cannabis, per litre of blood – more than double the limit of 2mg, the court heard.

Ms Riddell said: “In interview with police he said he was aware that drugs and alcohol would affect his driving ability.”

Mr Green, who has previous convictions, admitted driving a black Hyundai Getz with a proportion of a specific controlled drug above the specified limit in his system.

He further admitted driving without due care and attention, both on September 11 last year.

Adonis Daniel, defending, said: “When interviewed he was honest enough to say that he didn’t know exactly what had happened but that he was somewhat careless in his driving, which was aggravated by drugs.

“He works as a self employed window fitter but will now probably lose that job. He has been out of trouble for three years before this and has learned a salutory lesson. He has learned, to his cost, the dangers of drinking and taking drugs and driving.”

Presiding magistrate Brenda Harding told Mr Green: “You had passengers in the car, which makes this a very, very serious incident.”

Mr Green was banned from driving for 21 months.

In addition he was fined £300 and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs pluys a £20 victim surcharge.