Driver fell asleep at wheel after smoking cannabis and caused serious injuries to woman in head-on smash on Yorkshire road

A driver caused a head-on collision after falling asleep at the wheel of his van the morning after smoking cannabis.
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Craig Wright was jailed for nine months after a court heard how a 67-year-old woman suffered life changing injuries in the collision on Owl Lane, near Ossett.

Leeds Crown Court was told the victim had to undergo emergency surgery after her pelvis was split by the impact of the crash.

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The care home manager had to be cut from the wreckage of her car as her legs and ankles became trapped beneath the pedals.

Scene of head-on collision caused by Craig Wright on Owl Lane, Ossett.Scene of head-on collision caused by Craig Wright on Owl Lane, Ossett.
Scene of head-on collision caused by Craig Wright on Owl Lane, Ossett.

Allan Armbrister, prosecuting, said the collision happened around 8.20am on June 29 last year.

The victim was travelling towards Dewsbury on the way home from a night shift when Wright's vehicle, travelling in the opposite direction, veered across the carriageway without warning.

Emergency services arrived at the scene and found Wright injured in the road and the woman trapped in her car.

Both were taken to Leeds General Infirmary for treatment.

West Yorkshire PoliceWest Yorkshire Police
West Yorkshire Police
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Mr Armbrister said the woman underwent emergency surgery to her pelvis and crush injuries to her legs.

She remained in hospital for 13 days and continues to receive treatment for her injuries.

Wright was interviewed about the incident and admitted to police officers that he had been smoking cannabis the night before.

He said he had driven home to Yorkshire the day before after working in Luton.

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Wright said he drove to a friend's house in Leeds and smoked cannabis before sleeping in his van for the night.

The defendant said he could not recall the collision and could not remember anything after 10pm the previous evening.

A drug test showed be was level with the legal driving limit for cannabis.

Mr Armbrister said there were no mechanical problems with Wright's vehicle, a Peugeot 207 and there was no evidence that he was using his mobile phone at the time of the crash.

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The prosecutor said it was the Crown's case that Wright probably fell asleep at the wheel and lost control.

Wright, of Westcroft Lane, Selby, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The prosecutor read a victim statement to the court on behalf of the woman.

She said: "I cannot believe that someone could get in a car and do that to me."

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She described how she had been fit and active before the incident but was now unable to visit the gym or go running.

She also described how she had suffered financially and had to claim benefits due to being unfit to work becuase of her injuries.

The victim added: "The medical staff have told me to accept that I won't get back to the person I was before.

"I feel that myself, my partner and my family have had to put our lives on hold since that accident and have lost a year of our lives.

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"Before the accident I was a strong independent person with a happy work and home life.

"But now, as a result of the other driver's actions, I am still enduring physical pain and I still can't cope with it emotionally."

Ishmael Uddin, mitigating, said Wright had no previous convictions and was full of remorse for what he had done.

He said: "My client was not malicious and is not a malicious person.

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"That sets him far apart from people who appear regularly before the court."

Jailing Wright, Judge Christopher Batty said: "You were not in a fit state to drive and yet drive you did.

"When you consider the moving statement that was read out on behalf of (the victim), it is plain for us all to see the consequences of your actions on a lady who was simply making her way home.

"I accept that you are very, very remorseful and your concern is not for yourself but for (the victim) and what you have caused her.

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"But it must have been clear to you that you were not in a fit state to drive and there was a significant risk that you were not safe to drive.

"The consequences are so severe that it is not possible to suspend the inevitable sentence of imprisonment."