A driver who momentarily fell asleep at the wheel on the A66 near Penrith and crashed into an oncoming car has been handed a year’s ban as part of his sentence.
Alasdair Boyd, 45, was travelling westbound close to Brougham at around 2pm on July 23 last year when he briefly nodded off behind the wheel of his black Mercedes.
Boyd’s vehicle swerved and crossed three to four feet into the eastbound lane, colliding with an oncoming white Ford Focus.
“There was damage to both vehicles,” prosecutor Pam Ward told Carlisle Magistrates’ Court this morning. “Fortunately no injuries were reported. He was very, very remorseful.”
Magistrates heard Boyd was travelling from his home in Norfolk to visit his sister in Stirling, and had earlier stopped at Wetherby before continuing his journey on the A66.
A man of exemplary character at the time of the crash, he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and was supported in court by family members and a representative of his employer. He had made full and frank admissions to police in the immediate aftermath.
“This has weighed heavily upon him since July,” said his lawyer, Howard Catherall. “This was an aberration. There is no risk of a repeat.”
Mr Catherall added of the defendant falling asleep: “This was something which came upon him all of a sudden. Naturally had he turned the clock back, he would have pulled over.”
Magistrates imposed a 12-month driving disqualification with Boyd, of Albury Walk, Norfolk, told he must also pass an extended retest. In addition, Boyd must complete 80 hours’ unpaid work as part of a community order.
