Woman who failed to stop after hitting HGV on M4 was drink driving
Helen Bradshaw, from Wales, has now been disqualified
Last updated 18th Feb 2025
A drink driver, who crashed into a lorry on the M4 in Wiltshire has been banned from driving for 20 months.
Helen Bradshaw, 40, of School Road, Crynant, Wales, substantially damaged her Peugeot but failed to stop at the scene of the collision near Junction 16 on February 4th.
Officers followed a trail of skid marks and plastic debris off the motorway and found Bradshaw revving loudly as she moved back and forth in a lay-by at around 10.30am.
Panicked, Bradshaw initially told them she was not driving the vehicle at the time of the collision but later admitted she was in fact behind the wheel.
Roads Policing Sergeant Will Ayres conducted a roadside breath test which revealed Bradshaw was triple the legal alcohol limit and she was arrested on suspicion of drink driving.
Bradshaw previously pleaded guilty to this offence, in addition to driving without third party insurance, and she appeared at Swindon Magistrates' Court on Monday (17/02) where she was banned from driving for 20 months.
A 12-month community order was also imposed during which Bradshaw must complete 20 days of rehabilitation activity and pay a total of £299 to the court.
Sgt Ayres said:**** "It is shocking that despite the widely-known dangers of drink driving, people are still willing to put themselves and others at risk.
"Bradshaw destroyed the front end of her car in a collision which could have ended far worse.
“Drink driving is one of the fatal five offences, all of which increase the risk of you being involved in a serious or fatal collision."