Driver downs full bottle of Prosecco then smashes into van at red light
ADRINK driver smashed into the back of a van at a red traffic light after downing a full bottle of Prosecco - she was over twice the limit.
Chloe Harris, of Heywood, had been driving her Audi A1 from the Sky Bar in Bury to her friend’s house when she ran into the back of the Renault van.
The driver of the van was left with neck pain, Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard.
After officers arrived at the scene they understood she was intoxicated due to her ‘slurred speech, being unsteady on her feet and glazed eyes’.
Harris, 23, provided a positive breathalyser result at the roadside and was transported to the police station where she gave another two breath tests.
The lowest reading was 76 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - twice the legal limit of 35 milligrams.
The sales rep pleaded guilty to driving whilst over the alcohol limit and was handed a £500 fine by Manchester JPS.
Prosecutor Tina Cunnane told the court that on June 14 this year there was a road traffic collision at the junction of Angouleme Road and Manchester Road in Bury.
“The defendant collided with a Renault van, the driver suffered some pain and neck discomfort,” she said.
“The police attended and it was clear from speaking to her that she was intoxicated.
“She was slurring her speech, unsteady on her feet and her eyes were glazed.
“The driver of the van had been stationary at the red traffic light and the defendant had a passenger in her vehicle.”
Ms Cunnane added that Harris provided a positive sample at the roadside of her breath and was taken to the police station where she provided a further two readings the lowest being 76 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.
The legal limit is 35 milligrams.
In her police interview she told officers that she had been to Ramsbottom Cricket Club then went on to Sky Bar in Bury.
She said she drove from there and was going to her friend’s house when she crashed into the van.
She confirmed she drank a full bottle of Prosecco, and when asked if she could have been over the limit, she said ‘no’.
Harris was said to have no previous convictions.
Appearing unrepresented, Harris told the court: “First of all I want to apologise - it’s completely out of character for me. I’ve driven for five years and had a full clean driving licence.
“It was genuinely just a silly mistake.”
Harris was handed a £500 fine and ordered to pay £50 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.
She was also disqualified from driving for 19 months.
National Holidays is part of the JG Travel Group and is a leading specialist in great-value coach holidays across the UK, Ireland and Europe.
CONVEYOR systems manufacturer KP Industries is celebrating winning two major contracts.
The company works with some of the biggest names in the automotive, aerospace and nuclear sectors and is based out of two units at Logic in Kingsway Business Park.
KP Industries designs, manufacturers and integrates bespoke automated handling equipment and conveyor systems for customers in a wide range of industries in the UK and overseas.
They’ve worked with a stellar list of blue chip clients including BMW, Bentley Motors, British Nuclear Fuels, Jaguar Land Rover and Bombardier. Their two latest contract wins are worth nearly £3m.
The first is for £1.9m and is for a large automation system for a vertical farming company. The second is for £845,000 at Caterpillar’s manufacturing site in Leicestershire, where they are installing new conveyors for their upgraded paint plant.
Phil Cornell, managing director of KP Industries, said he was delighted at the contract wins, which he said he hoped reflected renewed business confidence after the Covid-19 uncertainty.
He said: “There’s no doubt that the last year to 15 months has been more challenging because of the combination of the Covid lockdowns, a slower market and the fact that companies have been more reluctant to commit to large capital investment.
“We’re delighted to have secured these two large projects which will keep us busy for the foreseeable future.
“This is on-top of the current projects we have going through the works, including an automated 10 tonne lifting cell for Hyster-yale Group in Northern Ireland, and a process tank system for a manufacturer of high performance, carbon ceramic brake discs in Liverpool.”
KP Industries has always operated from Rochdale and moved to Logic in 2019 as part of their growth plans.
Logic at Kingsway Business Park has been developed through a joint venture partnership between Wilson Bowden, Homes England, Rochdale Borough Council and the RDA.