A VAN driver who was over the drugs limit caused a serious crash with a motorcycle rider in Brighton, leaving the victim with life-changing injuries.
James Pateman carried out a careless manoeuvre turning from Howard Terrace into New England Road in the city.
He failed to see a motorcycle rider who was left with no time to react to Pateman’s van.
The motorcycle rider sustained serious injuries including having a leg amputation as a result of the crash.
Pateman admitted causing serious injury by careless driving, and drug driving.
Sussex Police is releasing information about the case to raise further awareness of the dangers of drug-driving, which is one of the main factors in why people are killed or seriously injured on our roads.
At Lewes Crown Court on March 6, Pateman appeared for sentencing after previously admitting the charges of careless driving and drug driving at an earlier hearing.
The court was told how the incident happened on July 21 last year.
Traffic was backed-up going downhill from Chatham Place into New England Road.
Pateman, 38, formerly an engineering technician of Chatham Place, Brighton, drove down Howard Terrace then attempted to turn right up the hill.
But he failed to see the motorcycle rider travelling up the hill, and turned into his path and causing the collision.
The rider had to undergo surgery four times in hospital, and his leg was amputated above the knee.
The victim has described the devastating ongoing impact the collision has had upon his life.
Speaking after the case Sergeant Ian Richardson from the Roads Policing Unit said: “This incident has demonstrated the life-changing consequences of drug-driving.
“Pateman failed to check oncoming traffic and has caused devastating injuries to the victim.
“He failed roadside DrugWipe tests which showed he had both cannabis and cocaine in his system at the time of collision.
“Later blood tests showed he was significantly over the limit for cocaine.
“Pateman will now have to reflect on his selfish and careless driving from prison.”
Pateman tested positive for 25 micrograms (ug) of cocaine per litre of blood. The legal limit is 10ug of cocaine per litre of blood.
He also tested positive traces of cannabis in his system and for the chemical breakdown of cocaine and cannabis.
Pateman was jailed for a total of ten months, and was disqualified from driving for three years and two months in total.
