Speeding Van Driver Spins Out After Risky Overtake on Wet A27
Nathan Virgo, 43, took a high-speed gamble that went disastrously wrong on the westbound A27 at Hangleton last August. The delivery driver, behind the wheel of a Mercedes Sprinter van, attempted to overtake a BMW SUV at breakneck speed in wet conditions — only to lose control and spin facing the wrong way on the dual carriageway.
BMW Driver Seriously Injured in Shocking Crash
The BMW driver was trapped and seriously hurt after his vehicle was slammed by Virgo’s van and flipped onto its side in the grass verge. Emergency crews were forced to shut the A27 for over two hours to rescue the victim, who was rushed to Royal Sussex County Hospital. Witnesses said Virgo had been hurtling past multiple cars before cutting sharply in front of the BMW, leaving the driver no time to react.
Drug-Driving and Dangerous Driving Land Virgo Behind Bars
At the scene, Virgo tested positive for cannabis and was arrested on suspicion of drug-driving and dangerous driving. His blood later revealed 8.2 microgrammes of cannabis per litre — over four times the legal limit of 2mcg.
PC Steve Bucksey, Roads Policing Unit, said: “Virgo’s dangerous driving put his own safety and that of other road users at risk. He admitted to smoking cannabis the night before, saying he felt fine to drive, despite being way over the limit. Unlike alcohol, cannabis can linger in your system for days or even weeks.”
At Brighton Magistrates’ Court, Virgo pleaded guilty to drug-driving, dangerous driving, and cannabis possession. The former Coleridge Crescent resident, now held at HMP Brixton, was sentenced to three months behind bars. He’s banned from driving for two years and ordered to pay a £128 victim surcharge plus £85 court costs.
A Stark Warning on Drug Use and Speeding Behind the Wheel
PC Bucksey added, “Speeding and driving under the influence are major causes of deadly crashes. Virgo is lucky this didn’t have a tragic outcome. This case highlights the dangers of ignoring road conditions and driving while under the influence of drugs.”
The crash caused hours of disruption on a rainy morning, with standing water making conditions even more perilous. Motorists are urged to drive safely and stay sober behind the wheel to keep the roads safe for all.
