Drunk driver jailed for two years after injuring cyclist

A drunk driver from Hull has been jailed for two years after pleading guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, reports Lucy Leeson of the Hull Daily Mail.

Suzanne Partridge, 32, left the scene after hitting 46-year-old Raich Carter, leaving him with injuries including a fractured skull, broken ribs and blindness in one eye.

Partridge was nearly three times over the limit when she hit Mr Carter on September 7 last year and failed to stop despite being aware she had hit the cyclist.

Hull Crown Court heard that Partridge was on her way home from Hull's Freedom Festival when she hit Mr Carter. She had drunk several pints of beer.

She had stopped for another drink and shortly afterwards witnesses reported seeing her car was seen swerving across Hull Road before the collision.

Prosecutor Philip Evans said: "The witness saw no operation of the defendant's brake lights before he heard the impact of the collision.

"He saw Mr Carter thrown into the air and land on his back in the road, before rolling over on to his left hand side.

"The defendant was institutionally aware that a collision had taken place."

Mr Carter, a supply teacher, was taken to hospital and has not been able to work since being hit.

He said: "I am trying to remain positive but this loss of sight is clearly a worry to me."

Investigators found fragments of glass from Partridge's vehicle on Mr Carter's clothing. When police confronted her at her home, she was stumbling and unsteady on her feet.

A breath test showed she had 101mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

In mitigation, David Gordon said: "What should have been a happy day turned into a complete nightmare, not only for Mr Carter, but for this woman.

"The events of that day will haunt her for the rest of her life.

"It was a gross misjudgment of her to have alcohol and she is deeply remorseful for her actions.

"This behaviour is completely out of character for her in every way."

Partridge admitted causing serious injury through dangerous driving, drink-driving and failing to stop after an accident. She has since written a letter to Mr Carter expressing her sorrow about the crash.

Judge Mark Bury said: "This has been a tragedy for you, and it gives me no pleasure to pass this sentence but I have to consider the interests of the public and Mr Carter, whose life has been wrecked by this incident."

He also banned Partridge from driving for two years and 11 months.