A motorist who had been drinking was responsible for a frontal collision that left a young man with severe injuries.
James Lamont was driving his Audi Q2 along the A259 Bognor Road in a westerly direction toward Chichester when he veered into the opposite lane for reasons that remain unclear.
The 28-year-old resident of Anna Sewell Road in Chichester collided with a BMW 3 Series that was proceeding along its correct side of the road. The incident occurred at approximately 4am on August 10 last year.
The occupant of that vehicle, a 20-year-old from Bognor, suffered a fractured leg that continues to impact his daily life.
In a victim impact statement composed after the crash, he described experiencing what he regards as post-traumatic stress disorder whenever he rides as a passenger in vehicles. He experiences flashbacks several times weekly, occasionally during working hours, and these flashbacks involve a pair of headlights advancing directly toward him. This immediately brings back memories of the original impact.
Before the collision, he had begun attending kickboxing sessions and had been a few times. He had been pursuing this fresh activity but now feels uncertain whether the metal pin in his leg and his current flexibility will permit him to continue.
The incident has considerably affected his employment, his relationship, his mental wellbeing, his home life and everything in between.
He simply wishes to return to his full routine, to work properly, to the gym, to enjoying activities with friends and family. To normal life.
Emergency personnel arrived at the crash location and observed that Lamont had glassy eyes, appeared unsteady when standing and emitted a strong odour of alcohol.
He was taken into custody and faced charges of causing serious injury through careless driving alongside drink-driving. His blood contained 90 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres. The permitted level stands at 80 milligrams per 100 millilitres.
He admitted guilt to every charge and at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on March 3 received a 12-month community order alongside a requirement to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. He was also prohibited from driving for two years, ordered to pay a £455 fine, £85 in costs and a £114 victim surcharge.
Investigating officer PC Jed Gobey from the Roads Policing Unit commented that his colleagues in the unit and himself are dedicated to policing drivers who opt to operate vehicles while impaired or under the influence of drink or drugs. He emphasised that such behaviour is selfish, dangerous and can transform the lives of the driver and others. One should either drink or drive, never both.