Moment dangerous A55 driver crashes into central barrier before car spins across carriageway

This is the dramatic moment a dangerous driver over the limit on drink and drugs crashes into barriers on the A55[1]. Alan Armstrong-Breen's Ford Galaxy can be seen hitting a fence by the Britannia Bridge then careering across the road and into the right hand barrier. The vehicle spins twice as debris flies off the car before it finally comes to a halt with its lights flashing.

The motorist and his female passenger abandoned the car and fled into woods. The 42-year-old defendant pleaded guilty to driving his Ford Galaxy dangerously on February 21. He was jailed today for three months.

Caernarfon Crown Court heard he is already serving a jail sentence for a driving offence. Prosecutor Emmalyne Downing said a CCTV camera captured footage of the silver people carrier, which appeared to be "scraping" the left hand barrier near the Britannia Bridge shortly after midnight that night. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here[4][2][3]

It lost control, went "spinning and bouncing" across the carriageway before hitting the right hand barrier, said the prosecutor. "Bits came off before it came to rest", she added.

The defendant got out of the driver's side and a female got out of the passenger's side. They crossed the carriageway - with other drivers stopping to ask if they needed a lift to hospital, which they declined - and went off into the woods. Later a police officer arrived and saw the pair walking from the woods towards him, covered in blood.

Both were intoxicated. "They were talking over each other and could not stand up straight," said Ms Downing. Both claimed to be passengers. Police found the car was on false registration plates and the real plates were in the boot.

Armstrong-Breen, of Hallwood Green, Bradford, was over the drink driving limit for alcohol and a cocaine derivative was found in his system.

Ms Downing said that fortunately there were no injuries. Shahid Rashid, defending, said his client accepts his driving was dangerous. The judge His Honour Timothy Petts told the defendant he had been going too fast.

He had struck one barrier, spun a couple of times and then hit the other. He had then left his car "in a not very safe place". He is currently serving a sentence for another dangerous driving offence.

So the judge jailed him for three months for the latest incident in addition to his current term of imprisonment and extended his driving ban to a total of three years.

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References

1. ^ A55 (www.dailypost.co.uk)
2. ^ Caernarfon (www.dailypost.co.uk)
3. ^ Court (www.dailypost.co.uk)
4. ^ latest court stories here (www.dailypost.co.uk)