Farm worker over drink-drive limit after car hit by fallen branch
A FARM worker who crashed his car during Storm Darragh after being struck by a falling tree branch was found to be more than twice the legal drink-drive limit following a vodka binge.
Marcin Przybycien, 39, was driving his Kia Sportage on the A40 near the Corner Piece Inn, Rudbaxton, just before 9:30am on December 7 when the branch came down, leading to a crash.
'The Kia Sportage was at the mouth of the Spittal junction,' Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.
'There was substantial front-end damage to the vehicle and it was covered in what appeared to be fresh mud. It seemed that the vehicle had collided with a wall.'
Police carried out a roadside breath test which proved positive. Due to Przybycien's injuries, he was taken to Withybush Hospital for examination.
'His nose was bleeding and he complained of chest and stomach pains,' added Ms Vaughan.
Because of his medical condition, officers were unable to conduct a formal drink-drive test until 2:30pm – around five hours after his arrest. A urine sample taken at that time showed 227 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine. The legal limit is 107.
Przybycien, of The Caravan, Trebrython Farm, Fishguard, pleaded guilty to drink-driving with the assistance of a Polish interpreter.
His solicitor, Katy Hanson, told the court that the defendant had been drinking Polish vodka with his brother the night before and had woken in pain due to a hernia.
'He felt unwell and thought he needed to get to hospital, which is why he decided to drive,' she said. 'As he passed the Spittal junction, a branch fell onto the vehicle and caused the crash.'
Magistrates disqualified Przybycien from driving for 20 months. He was fined £300 and ordered to pay a £120 court surcharge and £85 in costs.
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