"Selfish" drunk driver ties up emergency services in Derbyshire after smashing into three telegraph poles

Derbyshire police, firefighters and the ambulance service were called out to the incident on Park Lane, Shirland in Alfreton on Easter Monday, when a 34-year-old was found to be three times over the drink drive limit.

The Derbyshire Roads Policing Unit posted images of the accident, which happened at 7.40pm, showing dozens emergency service personnel at the scene, and which has sparked a public outcry over the use of an already stretched NHS workers coping with the Covid-19 crisis.

In a Tweet, at 7.23am, on Tuesday, April 14, the roads unit posted: “Alfreton. Drink driver wipes out three telegraph poles resulting him being trapped in his car.

“Huge resource drain on emergency services for such selfish behaviour. Blows 98, nearly three times the limit. Hospitalised to the busy NHS with minor injuries.”

In a statement on Tuesday, a police spokesperson added that “Police, firefighters and ambulance crews were called to reports of a single-vehicle collision in Park Lane, Shirland.

“A Peugeot 206 left the road and collided with three telegraph poles in the collision, which happened at about 7.40pm last night.”

“A 34-year-old man was removed from the vehicle by firefighters and then breathalysed at the roadside, giving a reading of 98ug. He was then treated by ambulance crews before being taken to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham for further treatment.

“The incident is still under investigation pending further inquiries.”

Comments in response to the incident on Twitter include ‘PenaltyTicket’ saying: “In these challenging times, a lifetime ban seems appropriate in order to send a message to all drink drivers. Stop him dead, before he stops another road user dead.”

Kim Lumsden said: “Charge them for everything..the emergency services call out and the hospital stay. Shocking.”

‘Rodjo’ added “Should be tougher sentencing on these ppl. At this moment in time the sentencing It's not a deterrent for these people.”

Another comment from Andy Wood read: “Shame that penalties couldn’t be doubled during these testing times to act as a deterrent although I doubt this character would take any notice.”

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