Judge says drugged-up driver was lucky not to have died after crashing into a tree at Kells
A judge told a motorist with drugs in his system who crashed into a tree on the opposite site of the road he was lucky not to have killed himself.
The 28-year-old crashed at Liminary Road, Kells, on September 4, 2024.
Steven Johnston, of Utility Street in Belfast, appeared at Antrim Magistrates Court, sitting in Ballymena, and admitted diving whilst unfit; driving without due care and attention; and absence of insurance for a Renault Clio.
When police arrived at the scene after 7am the defendant was "very agitated and fidgety" and his pupils were constricted.
"Evidence of drug use" was in the vehicle, a prosecutor said. A blood sample showed cocaine, diazepam and THC.
A defence barrister said the defendant said he was "travelling to work" and drugs were in his system "from the night before".
He had been prescribed diazepam but the cocaine was from a "substance misuse problem, which he has addressed, and he was consuming cannabis as well", the court was told.
The defendant has been banned from driving for a year and fined £275.
District Judge Nigel Broderick said that very sadly vehicles hitting trees often result in "fatal accidents".
He told the defendant: "No doubt the drugs in your system were a major contributing factor to your loss of control of the vehicle. You were lucky you didn't kill yourself."