Bicester Mini driver drove on wrong side of A14 before crash

Drink driver Allison Lefebvre, from Bicester, was driving a white Mini One eastbound on a westbound carriageway on the A14 near Ipswich on December 17. The 59-year-old struck a Peugeot 208 being driven by a teenage girl and also caused damage to a lorry. Police were called at around 8.30pm that night and breathalysed Lefebvre, however, she failed at the roadside.

She provided a reading of 96 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. This was almost three times the legal limit of 35mg in 100ml of breath. Lefebvre was arrested at the scene of the crash on suspicion of drink-driving but was then taken to hospital for a check-up.

She refused to provide a specimen of blood for analysis when police requested and remained in hospital for several days for treatment. The teenage girl in the Peugeot was also taken to hospital for a check-up. She explained in her witness statement that she has suffered with chronic back pain since the crash.

It has also caused her to suffer with anxiety, trouble sleeping and has made her fearful of driving on dual carriageways. Traffic policeman Regan Bradshaw described the incident as "incredibly dangerous" that could have had a "very different outcome". He said it is "extremely fortunate" that no one was killed or seriously injured that night.

"Allison Lefebvre made decisions that day that put her life and the lives of others at risk," the cop said after the court hearing. "I can only image the horror of the drivers of the other vehicles involved in the collision as they saw a car coming towards them on their side of the dual carriageway. "The driver of the Peugeot continues to feel the physical and psychological impact of the collision.

"It caused her to be off work for two months and has severely affected how she goes about her day-to-day life." Lefebvre, of Hawksmead in Bicester, appeared before Ipswich Magistrates' Court on June 23 where she avoided jail. She handed a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 24 months.

Lefebvre was also disqualified from driving for 28 months and will have to take an extended retest. She was also given a 10-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and ordered to pay GBP400 in compensation to the victim, GBP187 victim surcharge and GBP85 in costs. Lefebvre had pleaded guilty to the following two offences at a previous court hearing on June 1: dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

Mr Bradshaw added: "Roads policing officers have seen all too often the devasting impact caused by reckless actions such as drink-driving and dangerous driving.

"We will continue to raise awareness of these offences - and others that cause the most harm - and not relent in our work to make our roads safer for everyone."

References

1. ^ What we know so far as A34 closed 'for some time' (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)