A pregnant mom has been jailed for 2 years after inflicting a horrific street crash whereas six occasions over the drink restrict.
4 members of 1 household have been injured – three severely – when Charlotte Aitken’s Audi veered on to the unsuitable facet of the street and smashed into their automobile head-on.
A sheriff mentioned it was clear that Aitken had been ‘extremely impaired’ by the quantity of alcohol she’d taken and he or she was fortunate that nobody had been killed.
The mother-of-two, 37, of Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, admitted inflicting severe harm and endangering lives by driving dangerously whereas over the drink restrict.
Airdrie Sheriff Court docket heard the crash occurred in Cumbernauld on February 28 final 12 months.
Charlotte Aitken, 37, of Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, admitted inflicting severe harm and endangering lives by driving dangerously whereas over the drink restrict
Kevin Morrow, prosecuting, mentioned it concerned a Hyundai being pushed by a lady whose 13-year-old son was a entrance seat passenger. Her husband and daughter, aged 21, have been within the again seats.
Mr Morrow instructed the courtroom: ‘The collision occurred about 6.30pm when it was darkish.
‘The motive force behind Aitken noticed her cross on to the opposing carriageway. He sounded his horn and flashed his lights to alert her to the oncoming Hyundai.
‘The Hyundai driver noticed the accused’s headlights however didn’t have time to react and the Audi hit them.
‘The accused, who was travelling at between 40 and 50 miles an hour within the 40 miles an hour zone, didn’t apply her brakes previous to the collision.’
The unconscious Hyundai driver needed to be minimize free from the wreckage. She suffered a deep minimize to her kneecap that required surgical procedure in addition to 5 fractured ribs and a damaged wrist.
Her daughter suffered bowel injury and underwent two operations whereas her husband had fractures to his ribs and breastbone and in addition underwent bowel surgical procedure.
The couple’s son escaped with bruising however the courtroom heard he has needed to attend for cognitive behaviour therapy because the crash.
Mr Morrow mentioned: ‘A passing motorist helped the accused, who was semi-conscious, out of her extensively broken automobile.
Airdrie Sheriff’s Court docket
‘She was taken to hospital for therapy to a leg harm.
‘There was a powerful scent of alcohol in her car and he or she gave a optimistic breath check.’
Assessments confirmed she had not lower than 305mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood – the authorized restrict is 50mg.
Defence lawyer David Storrie mentioned Aitken, who has two teenage youngsters and is 12 weeks pregnant, accepted full accountability for the crash, including: ‘She expresses regret and disgrace for placing folks’s lives in peril.
‘A social employee says she was distraught when discussing the affect the crash has had on the victims.
‘Because the offence she has taken steps to deal with her alcohol consumption and accomplished a 16-week therapy programme as an inpatient.
‘She has decreased her alcohol consumption drastically.’
Passing sentence, Sheriff Paul Haran instructed Aitken her driving had been ‘extremely impaired by your consumption of alcohol’.
The sheriff mentioned: ‘4 individuals within the different automobile, together with a baby, suffered accidents that resulted, in some circumstances, in a number of surgical procedures.
‘You might be extraordinarily lucky that this incident didn’t lead to fatalities.
‘I acknowledge that you simply have been on the time within the grip of alcohol dependency and impacted by poor psychological well being.
‘It is to your credit score that you’ve taken steps to deal with the difficulty. I take account of your private circumstances and the actual fact you expect one other youngster.
‘Nevertheless, the extent of culpability was excessive… and I see no various to a custodial sentence.’
The sheriff additionally disqualified Aitken from driving for seven years and ordered her to resit her check.
