A driver who caused a man serious injuries in a head-on crash after having taken cocaine has been jailed for four years.
Charlie Bedworth, 37, was speeding along the B2145 Selsey Road, near his old home in Hunston, near Chichester, when he swerved into the path of an oncoming car.
Bedworth, of Julius Court, Justin Close, Brentford, had failed to see a vehicle ahead of him indicating to turn right off the B2145.
He tried to avoid crashing but, in doing so, drove his Audi Q5 into the path of a black Kia Picanto coming towards him.
Bedworth, formerly of Garnett Cottage, Hunston Road, Hunston, was tested for drugs at the roadside and traces of cocaine were found.
A blood test later found 295 micrograms of benzoylecgonine per litre of his blood – almost six times the legal limit of 50 micrograms.
The driver of the Kia Picanto, a 53-year-old man, from Selsey, was flown to hospital with serious injuries.
He continues to require treatment and rehabilitation for his injuries nearly a year after the crash on Saturday 10 June last year.
Bedworth, who is unemployed, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving and drug driving when he appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday 10 May.
He was jailed for four years in prison and banned from driving for five years.
Sussex Police said: “Drug driving and being distracted behind the wheel are two of the main factors in why people are killed or seriously injured on our roads.
“The court heard how the incident happened at about 7.40am on Saturday 10 June last year.
“A motorist in a Range Rover ahead of Bedworth had indicated to make a right turn.
“But Bedworth, driving at speed in an Audi Q5, failed to see the vehicle braking for the turn.
“At the last moment, he swerved into the path of an oncoming Kia Picanto.
“Bedworth failed a roadside DrugWipe test which indicated cocaine in his body.
“His later blood test showed he had 295 micrograms of the chemical breakdown of cocaine, called benzoylecgonine, per litre of blood in his body.
“At interview, he initially claimed he had not taken any drugs and speculated he may have had a drink spiked while dining at a restaurant.
“But when asked how two independent tests could be wrong, and asked if he had taken any drugs in the seven days prior to the collision, he refused to answer.”
Investigating officer PC Tom Van Der Wee, from the Roads Policing Unit, said: “Bedworth’s driving was appalling and dangerous.
“Due to a distraction, he failed to see a vehicle slowing down, braking and indicating ahead of him, and reacted far too late.
“He swerved to avoid a collision with the vehicle ahead of him but instead caused a devastating collision to the driver of the oncoming Kia.
“The case shows why we are determined to catch drug drivers before they cause similar harm to other innocent road users.
“Bedworth is incredibly lucky not to have caused the death or further serious harm to himself and others that day.”
