Drink driver smashed into back of police car

A woman who drove into the back of a police car while three times over the drink drive limit has been sentenced.

Officers were sat in a police car at the scene of a broken-down vehicle on the A1307 between Spittals and Alconbury at about 10.30pm on 28 March when a Volkswagen Polo drove through the coned closure and ploughed into the back of them.

The driver, Louise Rowlands, 54, of Seabrook Vale, Hythe, Kent, admitted to drink driving and blew 109 at the roadside, three times the legal limit of 35 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath.

She went on to provide an evidential reading of 96 in custody.

At Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (1 May), Rowlands was disqualified from driving for 23 months after pleading guilty to drink driving and driving without due care and attention. She must also carry out 40 hours unpaid work.

PC Jemma Russell, who investigated, said: “The officers were at the scene assisting a member of the public who had broken down. They were in a marked police car with all emergency lights and the matrix board activated. There were also blue lights illuminating the coned closure.

“It is sheer luck that Rowlands didn’t seriously injure one of the officers at the scene, the recovery agent dealing with the earlier broken-down car or even herself.

“This incident demonstrates the danger drink drivers can present when they get behind the wheel of a car. There is no excuse for drink driving and we urge anyone who knows a drink driver to report it to us.”

Cambridgeshire Constabulary operate a confidential 24/7 hotline for drink and drug drivers on 0800 032 0845.