Vodka binge ends in smash
Fine for man who drove drunk
A young Perthshire man who got drunk and ran his car off the road while carrying two passengers has been disqualified from driving for at least a year-and-a-half.
Daniel David Carnegie, who was also fined £1200, was only 19 when he veered off the A85 Comrie to Crieff Road on July 23 last year and his car ended up on its roof in a field, Perth Sheriff Court heard last week.
Depute fiscal Bill Kermode told Sheriff Lindsay Foulis that when police arrived at the scene along with an ambulance crew Carnegie, who is now aged 20, was “lying down in the field ... complaining of back pain.”
“He was immobilised and placed in a neck brace ... put on a stretcher and taken into [the] ambulance for assessment,” said Mr Kermode.
It was while he was in the back of the ambulance that Carnegie confessed to have been drinking, Mr Kermode continued, adding that one of his
It was suggested to emergency services that Carnegie had been drinking vodka
passengers intimated to either the officers or paramedics that he had downed “a couple of vodkas” before crashing his car.
“He was unable to provide a [breath] test due to the pain he was in,” Mr Kermode went on, stating Carnegie was then taken to hospital for a thorough examination. He said it was only when police were able to take a test later that it was confirmed Carnegie was well over the legal limit when he careered off the road.
Representing Carnegie in court last week solicitor Paul Ralph said to Sheriff Foulis: “He does not know why he got behind the wheel.” Suggesting the incident had left Carnegie shaken he added: “This young man has had a fright.”
Scolding Carnegie, of The Ross, Comrie, for his behaviour that day, Sheriff Foulis said: “If either of your friends had been seriously injured or had lost their lives you would be in the High Court facing years in prison.
“I say that so you’re in no doubt of the [potential] consequences of your foolish behaviour.”
In addition to fining Carnegie £1200 Sheriff Foulis disqualified him from driving for two years although he said if he completed a drink drive rehabilitation course his ban would be reduced to 18 months.
This young man has had a fright