Trowbridge e-scooter rider crashes into parked car while drugged – banned from driving for 2½ years
Drug-fuelled e-scooter crash causes serious injuries
Macaulay Whittaker, 20, from Jenkins Street in Trowbridge, has been slammed with a 2½-year driving ban after smashing his e-scooter into a parked car while high on drugs.
The crash happened on June 18 as Whittaker sped down Wicker Hill. He failed to take a left-hand bend, crashing into a stationary 2000 Honda CR-V. The impact threw him from the scooter, leaving him with serious head injuries that landed him in hospital.
Tests later revealed Whittaker was riding under the influence of cannabis and cocaine at the time.
Magistrates court hands down harsh sentence
At Salisbury Magistrates’ Court on December 19, Whittaker pleaded guilty to drug driving, careless driving, driving without a licence, and without insurance.
His punishment includes:
- A two-and-a-half-year driving disqualification
- An 18-month community order mandating 140 hours of unpaid work
- 30 rehabilitation activity days
Police warn of dangers and e-scooter law
PC Windsor-Hichens, the road policing officer, branded Whittaker’s actions “incredibly dangerous,” stressing how he risked serious harm to others.
“The owner of the vehicle had just exited it. If Whittaker had hit him, it could have caused serious injury,” the officer said.
PC Windsor-Hichens also highlighted the strict laws around e-scooter use:
“Privately owned e-scooters are illegal on public roads unless in designated trial areas. Using them requires a valid driving licence and insurance. There are no such trial areas in Swindon or Wiltshire, so riding them on public roads here is against the law.”
