Driver in leg break crash over the limit
ADRIVER was found to be over the alcohol limit after being involved in a crash that left another motorist with ‘serious injuries’, a court heard.
Costin Costescu, of Pennine Road, Bacup, was involved in a collision on New Year’s Day which left a driver with a broken leg.
Prosecutor Andrew Robinson told Burnley Magistrates Court that the defendant was driving a Fiat Stilo on Market Street in Whitworth when he tried to overtake another vehicle.
However Costescu
struck the driver’s side of the vehicle and caused him to ‘spin around’.
Mr Robinson said: “[ The other driver] intended to pull over to the opposite side of the road to make a phone call and put on his indicator.
“He then noticed in his rear view mirror a vehicle [driven by Costescu] behind him at quite high speed.
“As [ the other driver] tried to move across the road [ Costescu] tried overtaking and struck the driver’s side of the vehicle causing him to spin around.” The court heard how the roof of the victim’s car needed to be cut off and he suffered a broken leg which needed a cast.
Costescu, 37, was taken to a police station and provided an alcohol breath reading of 53mg in 100ml. The legal limit is 35mg.
He pleaded guilty to drink driving and was disqualified from driving for 14 months, reduced by 14 weeks if he completes a course approved by the Secretary of State.
He was also fined £267 and ordered to pay £85 costs.
John Rusius, defending, said: “He had something to drink but felt fine to drive and thought he was under the limit.
“So far as the accident is concerned, he maintains that it was not his fault at all. He said there was a vehicle in front of him and it indicated left to pull in.
“The defendant went to overtake him at which point the vehicle started to do a u- turn and pulled in front of the defendant’s vehicle. That’s how the accident was occasioned.
“The defendant faces no allegations of bad driving.”