Paramedics saw BMW speed past – then found drug-driver in …
Paramedics watched as a drug-driver sped past in his BMW – only to see the same car turned into a mangled wreck minutes later.
Alexander Hathaway, from Ramsgate[1], had taken cocaine and lost control of his vehicle on the Thanet Way in Whitstable[2] earlier this year.
To compound his misery, the 29-year-old’s boss then read reports about the crash online and sacked him.
A court heard how Hathaway, who was driving a BMW 5 Series sport edition, had tailgated an ambulance travelling at 80mph on the A299. He then took off at speed and drove into the distance.
But just a short while later, the same paramedics came across the car again – now facing the wrong way on the carriageway and severely damaged.
The ambulance crew stopped at the scene to check the welfare of the driver and the police were called.
When officers arrived at the scene, Hathaway admitted to them he had earlier taken drugs.
The father-of-two was given a roadside saliva test, which proved positive for cocaine and he was arrested.
Hathaway, of Ashburnham Road, was later charged with drug-driving and admitted the offence when he appeared before District Judge Justin Barron at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
The court heard the crash happened on the evening of Saturday, January 14.
When given a blood test at the police station, Hathaway gave a reading of 456 microgrammes of benzoylecgonine – a cocaine byproduct - per litre of blood. The legal limit is 50.
Mathew Howell, prosecuting, said: “The paramedics were on an emergency call on the A299 in lane two and were driving at 80mph.
“[The defendant] was tailgating behind the vehicle and then overtook it and accelerated off into the distance.
“A short while later they found the vehicle in the road facing the wrong way as it had crashed.
“He admitted to the police he had taken drugs and the saliva test proved positive for cocaine and he was arrested.
“He has no previous convictions. No one was injured and no one else was involved in the collision.”
Judge Barron was also told Hathaway had not driven since the incident and had not consumed a huge amount of cocaine that weekend.
It had been his birthday and, after enjoying dinner with his partner, he had gone out in the car again to get some cigarettes. He crashed after swerving on a bend and hitting water on the road.
Judge Barron also heard Hathaway’s employer had seen a report online about a BMW crashing on the road and had asked if he had been the man arrested on suspicion of drug-driving.
When he admitted it was him, he was sacked on the spot from his job as a lorry driver.
As a result, Hathaway has experienced a tough few months as he is now having to claim Universal Credit.
The judge was also told he was remorseful and just wanted to draw a line under the matter.
Judge Barron placed Hathaway on a 12-month community order which will see him carry out 140 hours of unpaid work.
He was also banned from the road for two years and must pay a victim surcharge of £114, as well as £85 costs.
References
- ^ Ramsgate (www.kentonline.co.uk)
- ^ Whitstable (www.kentonline.co.uk)