A motorist was more than five times over the cocaine limit when he smashed head-on into a car coming the other way on the A431 near Bath, causing “catastrophic injuries” to the driver.
Matthew Button, from Downfield in Keynsham, appeared before Bath magistrates on Monday 17th November to face five charges in relation to the collision at Bath Road at Kelston on 2nd June of this year.
The court heard that Button had been driving a Land Rover when he ploughed into the car being driven by Charlotte Waddell.
The crash closed the road for several hours.
Prosecutor Paul Kelly said that prior to the collision, a number of witnesses had seen the Land Rover weaving across the road, coming close to cyclists and clipping street furniture.
Mr Kelly outlined the “catastrophic injuries” that Charlotte Waddell suffered as a result of the crash. She had a brain injury, a lacerated spleen, cervical and lumbar spinal injuries, and injuries to her ribs.
The prosecutor described her injuries as “life-changing”.
Analysis of Button’s blood had found benzoylecgonine – a metabolite of cocaine – present at 280 micrograms per litre. The legal limit is 50 micrograms.
The 37-year-old was also found to have 2.7 micrograms of the drug Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol – the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis – per litre of his blood, exceeding the specified limit which is two.
Button was also found to be in possession of a quantity of two class C drugs – Alprazolam and Pregablin.
Standing in the dock, he admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving and pleaded guilty to the two drug-driving offences and the two offences of possessing controlled drugs.
Magistrates ordered a pre-sentence report and committed Button to Bristol Crown Court.
He was granted unconditional bail and will be sentenced on 5th January.
