A lorry driver has been sentenced to two years in prison for causing a serious crash while nearly double the legal drug-drive limit. Anthony Campbell, 55, from Culross Place, East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, displayed “unbelievable recklessness” when he lost control of his 44-tonne Scania HGV and crashed into an oncoming Mercedes on the A47 at Guyhirn, near Wisbech, on January 3.
Campbell swerved into the path of the Mercedes, leading to a severe collision that left the vehicle’s occupants injured. Tests revealed that Campbell had been smoking cannabis prior to the crash. A police officer involved in the investigation described the survival of the two Mercedes occupants as a “miracle.
PC Boris Kahn of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire Serious Collision Investigation Unit commented on the case, saying, “Campbell displayed unbelievable recklessness and ignorance in getting behind the wheel after smoking cannabis. It is nothing short of a miracle that the driver and the passenger in the Mercedes are still here today.”
Campbell admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was sentenced last week at Peterborough Crown Court. In addition to the prison term, he was disqualified from driving for four years.
Victims’ Statements
The Mercedes driver, a 33-year-old man from Birmingham, suffered minor injuries in the crash. However, the passenger, a 38-year-old man, sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge for surgery.
When I was trapped in the car at the scene of the crash, I thought I was going to die,” the passenger said in a victim statement. I can’t believe that someone would be so stupid as to drive a 44-tonne lorry with drugs in their system.
Investigation and Sentencing
Campbell was arrested at the scene after failing a roadside drugs test. A subsequent blood sample showed his cannabis level at 3.7 mcg per litre of blood, nearly double the legal limit of 2 mcg per litre of blood.
PC Kahn emphasized the dangers of drug driving, stating, “Anyone who drives after taking illegal drugs is putting people’s lives at risk, and it is completely unacceptable.
Campbell’s actions have highlighted the severe consequences of driving under the influence of drugs, and his sentencing serves as a stark reminder of the importance of road safety and responsible driving.
