HORROR CRASH DRINK-DRIVER JAILED
Nissan worker hit mechanic after 25-year celebration
A Sunderland Nissan worker smashed his car into a roadside mechanic when he got behind the wheel after a day of drinking to celebrate 25 years’ service with the firm.
Mark Wood, who had downed a pint, a full bottle of red wine and Aftershock shots at a social club near the car manufacturing plant in Sunderland, crashed his Nissan Note into Steven Hoggins, who was filling a broken-down vehicle with petrol in Washington, on February 3.
Newcastle Crown Court heard the garage employee was flung into the air, out of his workboots and landed, unconscious, further along the carriageway.
He suffered a double fracture to his left hip, ligament damage to his right knee, cuts, bruises and memory loss.
Married dad Wood, who has never been in trouble before, was almost three times the drink-drive limit and was only aware that he had “hit something” but was unsure of exactly what happened. Wood, 52, who is “genuinely horrified” by what he did, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol.
Miss Recorder Margia Mostafa sentenced him to 12 months behind bars, with a three-and-a-half year driving ban and extended test requirement.
The judge told him: “You were well over the drinkdrive limit, but you decided to get into your vehicle and instead of leaving it at the social club where you had been celebrating, which would have been the sensible thing to do, you decided to drive to the Galleries, in Washington.”
The court heard the vehicle Mr Hoggins was tending to had hazard lights on.
Wood, who the judge said was “completely incapable of driving”, had been seen driving erratically and swerving between lanes before the impact.
Mr Hoggins said in a victim impact statement Wood “could have easily killed me or someone else”.
The court heard despite his painful injuries, which resulted in Mr Hoggins having nine weeks of work and continuing hospital treatment, he bears Wood no malice.
Mr Hoggins said in his statement: “I only hope he learns an important lesson from this.”
Gavin Doig, defending said Wood, of Valley Drive, Dunston, Gateshead, has led a hard-working, blameless life and produced references to his ordinarily positive character.
Mr Doig said; “He should never have been in that car.
“The defendant was celebrating having worked for 25 years at Nissan.
“He had an unblemished driving record and excellent work record. He has thrown that away.”
“You were well over the drink-drive limit, but you got in your car” MARGIA MOSTAFA