Drunk Driver Crashes Horsebox After Binge in Canterbury
Patrick Quigley, 20, went on a booze-fuelled joyride that ended in disaster near Molash, Kent. The Irishman drank heavily in Canterbury on the night of Saturday 2 September 2023 before setting off home the next morning.
Wild Wrong-Way Drive Ends in Collision
Around 6.45am, another motorist spotted Quigley driving erratically near the city. Just 15 minutes later, he was seen hurtling the wrong way down the A252, The Street, when he smashed into a horsebox.
Driver Injured, Horses Hurt, Kids and Dog Escape
- The horsebox driver suffered a broken ankle and needed hospital treatment.
- Two children and a dog in the vehicle escaped unharmed.
- The horses, sadly, were injured in the crash.
Blood Test Reveals Heavily Over the Limit
Quigley also went to hospital for treatment to his own injuries where a blood sample revealed a staggering 132mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood – well over the legal UK limit of 80mg.
Sentenced to 16 Months and Banned from Driving
At Maidstone Crown Court on 4 July 2024, Quigley pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and drink driving. He was jailed for 16 months and will face a three-year driving ban once released.
“Quigley’s decisions that night led to a serious collision which could have ended in tragedy,” said PC Daniel Goodman. “It is by sheer luck that nobody was more seriously hurt.
“Drink-driving is reckless, ruins lives and puts innocent motorists and members of the public at risk of serious injury. Kent Police take this criminality seriously and regularly carry out stop checks to ensure those behind the wheel are fit to be driving.”
