Drink-driver ‘lucky to be alive’ following spectacular Fife crash

A drink-driver was lucky to be alive and not to have killed anyone after crashing his car “spectacularly” in Fife, a court has heard.

Drunk Mateusz Forster, 32, of Martin Crescent, Ballingry, admitted that on April 8 in Lochleven Road, Lochore, he drove having consumed excess alcohol.

His reading was 51 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the limit being 22 microgrammes.

He also admitted driving without due care attention at excess speed, failing to negotiate a bend, losing control of his vehicle, crossing into the opposite lane, colliding with railings, causing the car to repeatedly roll on its side and striking a wall.

Depute fiscal Alex Piper said the incident occurred at 9pm when Forster was driving his Honda Civic.

Two witnesses were walking in Lochleven Road as Forster drove by at speed and lost control of his car.

“He collided with railings and the vehicle rolled over three times before colliding with a wall and coming to rest on its side,” added the depute fiscal.

Forster was able to get out of the car and was standing nearby when police arrived and could smell alcohol from him.

Forster was taken to the Victoria Hospital by ambulance for treatment and when interviewed about the incident he replied: “Well I obviously was drunk and decided to drive.”

Defence solicitor Sarah Meehan said her client was a Polish national who had moved to Scotland.

“He had attended a party with friends and had intended to leave his vehicle.

“He consumed alcohol, was intoxicated and made the foolish decision to drive home,” she added.

“He negotiated a bend too quickly and lost control of his vehicle quite spectacularly.

“Mr Forster is lucky to be alive and it’s only through good fortune that nobody else was injured.

“He appreciates the utter stupidity of his actions.”

Sheriff Charles MacNair banned Forster from driving for 18 months and fined him £750.