A drink and drug driver who caused a crash near Blandford that resulted in a pregnant woman sustaining serious injuries has been jailed.
Christopher Ian McCall, aged 34 and of Langton Road, Blandford, appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court on Thursday 19 March 2020 to be sentenced after admitting causing serious injury by dangerous driving, drug driving, drink driving, failing to stop after an accident, driving without valid insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.
He was sentenced to three years in prison and disqualified from driving for seven years.
At around 6.50pm on Saturday 4 May 2019 a collision occurred by the turning from the A354 to Charisworth Farm, near Winterborne Whitechurch, which was holding the Teddy Rocks music festival at the time.
A man driving a Volkswagen Transporter van was turning off from the main road when a Ford Mondeo came up the track at what he described as very high speed and made contact with the side of the van, before driving off in the direction of Winterborne Whitechurch.
Moments later a collision occurred in the centre of the village of Winterborne Whitecurch involving the same Mondeo and an Alfa Romeo Giulietta.
Witnesses described the Mondeo being driven by McCall as travelling well in excess of the 30mph speed limit and swerving in the road before colliding with the Alfa Romeo, which was traveling in the opposite direction.
McCall continued driving along out of control for around 90 metres before his vehicle left the carriageway and ended up in a field.
He sustained a fracture to his leg as a result of the collision.
The occupants of the Alfa Romeo were a man aged in his 20s and his partner, who was seven months pregnant at the time.
The woman sustained a fracture to her left wrist and also injuries that resulted in complications with her pregnancy.
Her son was born 10 weeks later with arrested development, weighing just four pounds and they had to spend five days in hospital.
Blood samples were obtained from the defendant in hospital and an analysis revealed alcohol present at a concentration of 109 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.
The analysis also revealed the presence of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) at a concentration of 5.6 micrograms per litre of blood. The legal limit is 2 micrograms per litre.
It was established that McCall’s licence had expired and he was not insured to drive the vehicle involved.
Inspector Joe Pardey, of the traffic unit, said: “The reckless actions of Christopher McCall had a devastating impact on this young family at what should have been a very special time in their lives.
“While it is possible that their child is able to make a full recovery, the distress and anxiety caused during the final few weeks of the mother’s pregnancy and first few days of her son’s life will undoubtedly have a lasting impact.
“This case serves as another stark reminder of the shocking consequences that can arise if people choose to get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs and alcohol and we will do all we can to take action against those who choose to do so and put others’ lives at risk.”
