A WOMAN who crashed into a car at speed in Gwynedd whilst above the drink-drive limit has been jailed and banned from the roads.
Rhianon Brown, 35, of Malmesbury, Wiltshire was the driver of a Range Rover Evoque when she crashed head-on with another car on the A496 between Barmouth and Harlech in August last year.
Shortly before 10.30pm on August 25, police were called to a report of a crash involving the Range Rover and a Toyota C-HR which had four occupants.
The emergency services attended the scene, and the four from the Toyota were taken to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor - two of them had sustained serious injuries.
READ MORE:
Bangor man sentenced to more than two years in prison after burglary
Rhyl man handed fine and points after speeding on Anglesey
Gwynedd man's four-and-a-half-year sentence after assaulting elderly victim
Prior to this, Brown had also been involved in a separate crash involving a Ford Fiesta, but had left the scene.
When officers arrived, her speech was slurred and they could smell alcohol on her breath.
Brown was arrested on suspicion of numerous driving offences and was taken to police custody.
Following an investigation, she was later charged with:
• Dangerous driving.
• Failing to cooperate with a preliminary test.
• Two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
• Fail to provide a specimen for analysis.
• Dangerous driving.
• Failing to stop after an accident.
Brown appeared before Caernarfon Crown Court on Tuesday, April 26, where she was sentenced to two years in prison and disqualified from driving for four years.
Before getting back behind the wheel, she must also pass an extended retest.
Inspector Iwan Roberts, of North Wales Police’s Roads Policing Unit, said: “This collision could have easily resulted in a fatality.
“Brown’s manner of driving that night was reckless and irresponsible and showed complete disregard for the safety of other road users.
“During the investigation, she tried to claim that a defect with her vehicle caused the collision, but her lies were discovered when the Range Rover’s telematics system was interrogated and proved that seconds before the collision, she was travelling at around 60mph and only began to brake two seconds prior to colliding with the Toyota.
“We are committed to making the roads safer and have a robust strategy around enforcing the ‘Fatal Five’ offences which includes speeding, driving whilst under the influence and dangerous/careless driving.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here