Woman given suspended sentence for drink-drive crash on A14

The details: Allison Lefebvre, of Hawksmead in Bicester, Oxfordshire, was driving eastbound on the westbound carriageway of the A14 between Sproughton and Whitehouse when her white Mini One struck a Peugeot 208 at just after 20:30 on Wednesday, 17 December. An HGV was also damaged in the incident.

• Lefebvre appeared before Ipswich Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, 23 June, where she was sentenced after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing on Monday, 1 June, to two offences: dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen for analysis.
• At the scene, she failed a roadside breath test with a reading of 96 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath – almost three times the legal limit of 35mg per 100ml.
• She was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving but was taken to hospital, where she refused to provide a blood specimen for analysis.
• In addition to the suspended sentence, Lefebvre was disqualified from driving for 28 months and must take an extended retest. She was also given a 10-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and ordered to pay £400 in compensation to the victim, £187 victim surcharge and £85 in costs.

The impact: The teenage driver of the Peugeot was also taken to hospital following the collision. In her witness statement, she said she has suffered with chronic back pain since the incident, as well as anxiety, trouble sleeping, and a fear of driving on dual carriageways. The collision caused her to be off work for two months.

What they're saying: PC Regan Bradshaw, of the Roads and Armed Policing Team, said: "This was an incredibly dangerous incident that could have had a very different outcome and it is extremely fortunate that no one was killed or seriously injured.

"Allison Lefebvre made decisions that day that put her life and the lives of others at risk. I can only imagine the horror of the drivers of the other vehicles involved in the collision as they saw a car coming towards them on their side of the dual carriageway.

"The driver of the Peugeot continues to feel the physical and psychological impact of the collision. It caused her to be off work for two months and has severely affected how she goes about her day-to-day life.

"Roads policing officers have seen all too often the devastating impact caused by reckless actions such as drink-driving and dangerous driving. We will continue to raise awareness of these offences – and others that cause the most harm – and not relent in our work to make our roads safer for everyone."

The bottom line: Lefebvre's decisions on the evening of 17 December left a young woman with injuries and anxieties she continues to live with today. The suspended sentence means she will avoid prison only if she meets the conditions set by the court over the next two years.

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