‘He’s going to hit somebody if he’s not careful’: Police release chilling audio of 999 call made before drunk driver smashed his van into two other cars – as motorist, 36, is …
Footage released by police shows the aftermath of a ‘shocking’ crash caused by a van driver – who was more than double both the drink and drug limits.
Audio made public by Surrey Police reveals the worried calls made by two people who witnessed Shane Mackay careering down the A3 in December 2022 in the wrong direction at more than double the drink and drug drive limits.
Mackay, 37, was sentenced to prison and disqualified from driving.
After initially pleading not guilty, he later changed this to a guilty plea and was given a 16-month custodial sentence for dangerous driving, at Guildford Crown Court on Thursday, 2 May.
He was also sentenced to 13 weeks for drug driving to run concurrently and disqualified from driving for four years (51 months).
Audio released by Surrey Police reveals the worried calls made by two people who witnessed Shane Mackay careering down the A3 in December 2022 in the wrong direction at more than double the drink and drug drive limits
Officers were alerted at around 2:15am after the 36-year-old’s vehicle was driving north on the southbound carriageway at Thursley, Surrey
Shane Mackay, 37, was given a 16-month custodial sentence for dangerous driving, at Guildford Crown Court on Thursday, 2 May. He was also sentenced to 13 weeks for drug driving to run concurrently and disqualified from driving for four years (51 months)
After this disqualification period has passed, he will be required to take an extended re-test if he wishes to obtain a new driving licence.
Officers were alerted at around 2:15am after the 36-year-old’s vehicle was driving north on the southbound carriageway at Thursley, Surrey.
As police raced to the site of the collision, the van was involved in a three-vehicle collision just outside Guildford – causing substantial wreckage.
The occupants of the other vehicles were able to climb from their cars and received medical attention at the scene.
Mackay, of Farnham, was found lying on the front seat of the van, conscious but smelling of alcohol and slurring his speech.
He was cut from his vehicle and taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Having refused to provide a specimen of breath at the roadside, Mackay was arrested, and his blood was tested instead.
As police raced to the site of the collision, the van was involved in a three-vehicle collision just outside Guildford – causing substantial wreckage
The occupants of the other vehicles were able to climb from their cars and received medical attention at the scene
Mackay was found to have been driving whilst two and half times over the drug drive limit, and more than two times over the limit for drink driving, with his blood showing 172 milligrams of alcohol whilst the legal limit is 80 milligrams
Officers were also able to use DNA to place Mackay in the driver’s seat at the time of the collision
He was found to have been driving whilst two and half times over the drug drive limit, and more than two times over the limit for drink driving, with his blood showing 172 milligrams of alcohol whilst the legal limit is 80 milligrams, police said.
Officers were also able to use DNA to place Mackay in the driver’s seat at the time of the collision.
PS Dan Ayrton from the Surrey Roads Policing Unit said: ‘This case shows the shocking reality of what can happen if you choose to get behind the wheel while intoxicated through drink or drugs.
‘When you see the wreckage of the vehicles involved it is sheer luck that no-one was killed or seriously injured in this case.
‘Drink and drug driving will not be tolerated on Surrey’s roads and you should expect to pay the maximum penalty if you are caught.
‘I am thankful to the members of the public who quickly called us to report this incident and I would encourage anyone who thinks they may be witnessing a drink or drug driver to contact us.’
References
- ^ Tash Mosheim (www.dailymail.co.uk)