New Year’s Eve crash driver refused to give blood sample
containing Lister and his partner, had gone through a wall and was stuck in a tree above cricket fields on the road between Linthwaite and Slaithwaite.
Lister, 34, was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving but refused to cooperate with police. He pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis when he appeared at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court.
Vanessa Jones, prosecuting, told the Huddersfield court that the incident happened at 10.45pm.
She said: “The vehicle had come off the road, veered into a wall and then went through the wall.
“It landed on its front and the driver’s airbag was deployed. He was very shaken and suffered some grazing to his head.”
The air ambulance arrived next to the scene, close to the Thornton & Ross pharmaceutical manufacturers.
A witness told the Examiner that he saw events unfold from his living room window.
He said: “I saw a small red Ford Transit van, travelling from Huddersfield towards Slaithwaite, suddenly veer off the road into the wall and hit the trees in the banking below.
“Police arrived very quickly and got the man out, but the fire service spent hours getting the woman out.”
The couple were both treated in hospital and Lister, of Nursery Avenue in Halifax, was initially arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and dangerous driving.
Mrs Jones added: “He was required to provide a sample of breath but said ‘no’. He was clearly very traumatised. Then he was taken to hospital as was his partner. There he was asked to provide a blood sample but refused to do that.”
Lister had a previous drink-driving conviction dating back to 2012. Because of this he was liable to disqualified for three years.
Chairman of the bench Brian Hughes told him : “It was a serious accident involving you and another person.”
He banned Lister from driving for 38 months “reflecting the seriousness of the situation.”
Magistrates also fined him £500 and ordered him to pay £85 prosecution costs plus £50 victim surcharge.