Teenage Drink Driver Who Fell Asleep At The Wheel Told He Was Lucky To Be Alive

TEENAGE drink-driver Jamie Hardy was lucky to be alive after falling asleep at the wheel of his car and crashing into a field. Hardy had been out celebrating a friend s 18th birthday before the accident at Witcham in the early hours. He was a very stupid

TEENAGE drink-driver Jamie Hardy was lucky to be alive after falling asleep at the wheel of his car and crashing into a field.

Hardy had been out celebrating a friend's 18th birthday before the accident at Witcham in the early hours.

"He was a very stupid but a very lucky young man," solicitor Lyndon Davies told Ely magistrates.

"He believes he momentarily fell asleep, crashed his car and clipped a tree. He was lucky not to kill himself, and no one else was involved."

Eighteen-year-old Hardy, of West Lodge Lane, Sutton, admitted driving with an alcohol level almost double the legal limit on January 25.

"Police attended a single vehicle accident at 5.55am and found a Volkswagen Polo in a field," said Laura Mardell, prosecuting.

"Hardy was asleep in the front passenger seat. He told police he and fallen asleep and came off the road."

Hardy gave a breath test reading of 64 mcgs of alcohol in 100 mls of breath, when the legal limit is 35 mcgs.

The teenager had been out celebrating a friend's 18th birthday in Newmarket, and had drunk enough alcohol to put himself over the limit, said Mr Davies.

"This accident has had a profound effect on him," he added. "He came round thinking he had broken his legs, he thought he had done himself some serious harm."

Hardy is about to leave his job as an optical technician, and join the army.

Magistrates banned Hardy from driving for 18 months and fined him �200 with �35 costs and a �15 surcharge.