A DRINK-DRIVER sent another car careering across a busy roundabout, leaving its driver terrified and needing hospital treatment.

The innocent driver, who had her handbrake on, told police her life “flashed before her eyes” as her car hurtled towards a wall on the Shipton Road A1237 roundabout on the outskirts of York at 4.30am on October 6, local magistrates heard.

The crash put her in hospital for two-and-a-half days and left her with a slipped disc and damaged neck and shoulder muscles, said Cathy Turnbull, prosecuting.

Drink driver Lloyd Quinney, 23, of Kestrel Way, Haswell, County Durham, was nearly twice the legal limit when he crashed into the back of her car..

His solicitor Keith Haggerty said he was on his way home from a visit to York with his girlfriend and they were arguing as they approached the roundabout where the woman driver had stopped to give way to a car crossing from the right.

Quinney hadn’t realised how much he had drunk during their night out in York the evening before and thought he had been safe to drive because he had had some sleep before setting out on the journey.

“He is seriously apologetic to everyone involved and he takes the whole of the blame himself,” said Mr Haggerty.

“The consequences of his drink-driving that night will be very, very long term.”

Quinney would lose his new business and may lose his job because he would be unable to drive, said the solicitor.

Quinney pleaded guilty to careless driving and drink-driving and was banned from driving for 18 months. He was fined £425, with £85 prosecution costs, £150 court costs and a £32 statutory surcharge.