Portstewart mother was three times over the drink drive limit
A MOTHER more than three times the drink drive limit crashed whilst running late on the morning ‘school run’ despite her young children pleading with her to slow down, Coleraine Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday.
Sara Wilson (34), of Ballyleese Park, Portstewart, admitted driving dangerously and with excess alcohol at Roselick Road near the town on October 21.
A prosecutor said police were called to a single vehicle road traffic collision at 9.15am involving a Dacia Duster car.
Ambulance staff believed Wilson had been drinking and there were two small children in the vehicle, although they weren’t injured.
The defendant smelt of alcohol, her speech was slurred and she had to be supported by police officers to prevent her from falling over, the court heard.
A member of the public told police the defendant had almost caused a head-on collision with her vehicle before the crash.
The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.
The defendant had a reading of 107.
She told police she had been late for school and had been driving fast and her children were telling her to slow down.
A defence solicitor said the defendant, who is now off sick from work, had been struggling with alcohol difficulties and was “extremely remorseful” for what had happened.
The lawyer said Wilson had consumed alcohol after working a late shift and, after going to bed for a few hours, felt she was fine to drive.
Wilson was banned from driving for two years and also fined £500.