Richard Miller said ‘all I can say is I am sorry’ after the crash.
When a boss of a healthcare company struck two young women’s cars head-on while intoxicated by 2.5 times the legal limit, two of them nearly lost their lives. Richard Miller, a father of three, was reportedly going at 60 mph when he lost control of his Ford Galaxy on a bend and swerved into the victim’s vehicle, according to testimony given to Nottingham Crown Court.
The driver suffered a brain bleed from the force of the impact, lost consciousness, and needed to be extracted from the Ford Focus. Her passenger sustained seven fractured ribs and a bleed in her colon, and she had to crawl out of the debris.
Recorder Stuart Sprawson sentenced him to 14 months in prison, saying, “Unbeknownst to them, that day and the previous day you have been consuming copious amounts of alcohol.” enough to make driving dangerous, yet you still made the conscious decision to drive. You took a big chance by completely disobeying the traffic laws.
“You made the decision to turn that bend quickly and crossed the solid, white centre line. It was quite risky.
The driver was knocked out, and all she could remember was your automobile raising its bonnet. Their lives have been profoundly impacted by your illegal actions.
The collision occurred on May 17, 2018, at about 6:15 p.m., in Ravenshead, according to prosecutor Matt Hayes. He added that when the defendant’s car drove into their path and struck them head-on, the two women in the Focus, who were 26 and 29, were safely negotiating a turn by slowing down to 30 mph.
“One of the victims estimates his car was travelling at around 60mph,” the prosecutor stated. “They didn’t even appear to notice their vehicle or brake to avoid a collision.” The automobile turned 360 degrees, triggering the airbags and knocking out the driver.
After escaping the vehicle, the passenger reported feeling as though she had been crushed and experienced a burning sensation. The defendant then appeared behind her, and she heard him remark, “All I can say is I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t answer that,” he answered when she inquired if he had been drinking or texting. According to Mr. Hayes, Miller was breathalysed by the police after the driver was freed from the vehicle. Miller’s reading was 110 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, which is beyond the permitted limit of 35.
He claimed that after being escorted to the police station, the defendant informed the officers that he was unable to provide a second, crucial breath sample due to a medical condition, therefore blood was drawn in its place.In 100 millilitres of blood, the legal limit is 80 milligrammes of alcohol, but the prosecutor stated this resulted in a value of 211 milligrammes. According to the prosecutor, both women were rushed to the hospital, where it was discovered that the driver had a brain bleed and that the passenger had broken ribs as well as a gut haemorrhage.
One victim stated in her impact statement that she was forced to sleep on the sofa with the TV on and that she was reminded of the incident by loud noises. The driver in hers stated: “I don’t remember much about the crash, but I remember waking up feeling confined, which scared me because I detest feeling trapped in particular.
“I still find it difficult to eat and take a shower, and the incident still haunts me.” Miller, 55, of Sutton-in-Ashfield’s Springwood View Close, entered a guilty plea to two charges of DUI and causing severe injury by driving while intoxicated.
He was previously found guilty of drunk driving in 2017 and was given a 10-week jail sentence, a one-year suspension, and a one-year driving ban 29 months. The mitigating party, Lauren Manuel, stated that her client had worked in finance before starting his own company that employed 200 people and provided healthcare services.
She added that following this occurrence, the father of three adult children resigned from his position as managing director and volunteered for the Forestry Commission as well as a Southwell football team. Miss Manuel claimed that during periods of abstinence, concerns for the company caused him to resume excessive alcohol consumption.
“He had several pints of cider and drove home without thinking, something he bitterly regrets and has done every day since,” the speaker stated. He was cooperative with the authorities, stayed at the site, and apologised right away.
“He tried suicide six days after the incident, but luckily his wife discovered him.” Recorder Sprawson not only imposed the jail sentence but also barred the offender from driving for five years and seven months.
