Dashcam shows moment dangerous driver leaves woman seriously injured in crash

This is the shocking moment a dangerous driver crashes head-on into a car on a North Wales bridge. Antoine Mercier had drunk several pints and vodka when he hit a wall and veered into the path of an oncoming vehicle. This clip, released by the Crown Prosecution Service, is from dashcam footage from a vehicle which was behind Mercier's on Conwy [1] Bridge.

His victim in the oncoming car suffered a fractured spine and other injuries. A court heard this week that Mercier had been stressed at work and drunk pints and vodka leaving him three times the legal limit before the "horrific" smash in Llandudno [2] Junction. He admitted causing serious injury to the woman by dangerous driving.

Last Thursday, Caernarfon Crown Court [5] heard the restaurant manager, of Denbigh Street, Llanrwst, had had a row with his chef before the collision [6]. The judge gave the 44-year-old an 18-month jail term for the dangerous driving offence, but suspended it for 18 months. The judge His Honour Timothy Petts said his actions had had a physical and psychological impact on the other driver.

But a report suggests he is at low risk of re-offending. Suspending the sentence, the judge ordered Mercier to do 250 hours of unpaid work, do 20 days of rehabilitation activity and wear an electronic alcohol abstinence monitoring tag for 120 days. He also disqualified him from driving for two and a half years and he must pass an extended retest before he can drive again.

Mercier has already been sentenced for drink driving over the same incident.

North Wales Live has launched a WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone [7]

References

^ Conwy (www.dailypost.co.uk)
^ Llandudno (www.dailypost.co.uk)
^ Former Wilko store in North Wales to be re-opened by B&M (www.dailypost.co.uk)
^ 'Ghost town' fears for once prosperous seaside resort as four retail chains pull out in quick succession (www.dailypost.co.uk)
^ Court (www.dailypost.co.uk)
^ had a row with his chef before the collision (www.dailypost.co.uk)
^ WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone (www.dailypost.co.uk)