A DRUG driver who caused serious injuries to another motorist on the A27 has been jailed.
Nathan Virgo attempted to undertake a BMW SUV while speeding in a Mercedes Sprinter van on the westbound carriageway at Hangleton on August 9 last year.
The 43-year-old delivery driver crashed and ended up spinning to face the wrong way on the road.
The BMW driver was seriously injured and left trapped when their car flipped on to a grass verge.
Virgo was arrested at the scene on suspicion of dangerous driving and drug-driving after completing a roadside DrugWipe test which was positive for cannabis.
At Brighton Magistrates’ Court, he admitted the two charges, and a further charge of being found in possession of cannabis.
Virgo, formerly of Coleridge Crescent, Goring, but now of HMP Brixton, was sentenced to three months in prison.
The court also disqualified him from driving for two years and ordered him to pay a £128 victim surcharge and £85 costs.
At court, witnesses described how Virgo had driven at high speed to undertake several vehicles before attempting to move into the outside lane in wet and raining conditions.
He cut in front of the BMW driver, who had no time to react. The driver continues to make progress with his recovery.
A blood test showed Virgo had 8.2 microgrammes (mcg) of cannabis in his system per litre of blood. The legal limit is 2mcg of cannabis per litre of blood.
Investigating officer PC Steve Bucksey, of the Roads Policing Unit, said: “Virgo’s dangerous driving put his own safety and the safety of other road users at risk.
“At the scene, we found that Virgo was driving while under the influence of cannabis. He told us he smoked cannabis the night before but still felt fine to drive, despite being four times the legal limit. Unlike alcohol, Drugs can take days and even weeks to be within legal limits”.
“Driving under the influence of drugs and driving at excess speed are two of the main reasons why people are killed and seriously injured on our roads.
“Virgo caused several hours of disruption, and is incredibly lucky that this collision did not have tragic consequences.
“This case demonstrates the risks of drug-driving and driving at excess speed. It also shows the obligation of all motorists to ensure they drive appropriately according to road conditions.
“We will take appropriate action to remove those that endanger other road users, and I am pleased that a dangerous driver has been taken off our roads.”
The A27 was closed for more than two hours following the crash.
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