Two young children were left seriously injured after a drug driver drove through a red light and ploughed into the side of a car. Police were called to the scene of a crash on the A30 near Sherborne after a cement mixed went through a red light into another vehicle.
The mixer crashed into the side of a blue Audi A5 that was making a right-hand turn into Sheeplands Lane. The rear passengers of the Audi, two children aged ten and 11, suffered serious injuries. Their injuries included a fractured pelvis, fractured clavicle, fractured ribs, lung injuries and a lacerated liver.
The driver of the cement mixer failed a roadside drugs wipe and a further blood test was taken. The toxicology report revealed that he had six and a half times the legal limit of Benzoylecgonine, the main metabolite of the drug cocaine in his blood.
A 53-year-old man from Yeovil was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Tuesday (January 14). He admitted to causing serious injury by careless driving and driving while over the specified drug limit.
The drug driver received a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. He was also given a three-year disqualification from driving.
Police Constable James Hazell, of the Roads Policing Team, said: “The driver in this case used drugs over the weekend before the collision, which led to him still being over the limit on a Monday when driving and operating a heavy goods vehicle.
“The careless actions of the defendant that saw him go through a red light led to serious consequences for two innocent children. The children both received treatment in hospital and faced a long period of recovery during the school summer holidays when they should have been able to freely enjoy themselves.
“I hope this case is a reminder to anyone thinking of getting behind the wheel of a vehicle while under the influence that it can have a serious impact on other innocent road users. Anyone thinking of driving and operating a heavy goods vehicle must do so while taking extra care and consideration for those around them.”
A statement from Dorset Traffic Police said: “A drug driver who was operating a heavy goods vehicle has been sentenced after seriously injuring two people in a road traffic collision in Sherborne.
“A 53-year-old man from Yeovil was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Tuesday 14 January 2025 after admitting offences of causing serious injury by careless driving and driving while over the specified drug limit. He received a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years as well as a three-year disqualification from driving.
“At around 12.30pm on Monday 24 July 2023, the defendant was driving a cement mixer on the A30 in the direction of Sherborne when he contravened a red traffic signal. The driver collided with the side of a blue Audi A5 that was making a right-hand turn into Sheeplands Lane.
“The rear passengers of the Audi – two children aged 10 and 11 – sustained serious injuries including a fractured pelvis, fractured clavicle, fractured ribs, lung injuries and a lacerated liver. The defendant failed a roadside drugs wipe and a subsequent toxicology report revealed his blood contained over six and a half times the legal limit of Benzoylecgonine, the main metabolite of the drug cocaine.”