Lorry driver put ‘thousands’ of motorists at risk

A lorry driver who put ‘thousands’ of road users at risk while driving across three counties has been jailed.

Members of the public called police reporting a 44 tonne Scania lorry swerving across lanes on the A1m between Stevenage and St Neots on the evening of 27 June.

When officers in Cambridgeshire were alerted, they tracked the vehicle down near Wyboston but despite the flashing blue lights and sirens, the driver failed to stop.

The lorry was then followed for a further six miles as other officers used a stinger to slow the vehicle down. Officers then pulled in front of the lorry to bring it to a stop near Sawtry.

Inside the cab they found 65-year-old Gheorghe Hirtopeanu who appeared to be drunk.

He was taken into custody but refused to provide a breath sample.

At Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday (2 October) Hirtopeanu was sentenced to 14 months in prison after pleading guilty to dangerous driving, driving whilst unfit through drink, failing to stop, failing to provide specimen for analysis and driving a vehicle drawing a trailer on the offside lane of a motorway. He was also disqualified from driving for eight years and four months.

In court, His Honour Judge Grey described Hirtopeanu’s driving as ‘outrageous’ and said he was ‘extraordinarily drunk’. He said Hirtopeanu was ‘an appalling risk to literally thousands of other road users’.

HHJ Grey said: “There were only two reasons why you didn’t kill or seriously injure someone – luck and skill of police officers who were ultimately able to stop you.”

HHJ Grey also formally commended PC Ben Patten from the Road Policing Unit for his actions describing it as ‘first rate piece of clear thinking and highly talented driving from a well-trained officer’.

PC Jemma Russell, who investigated, said: “Hirtopeanu didn’t give any thought for his or other road users’ safety when he got behind the wheel, driving on a major route.

“Alcohol stays in your system longer thank you think and it affects your decision making and slows your reaction time.

“I hope this acts as a warning to anyone who thinks that drink, or drug driving, is an option – it’s not.

“I’d like to thank members of the public who alerted police.”