Suspected drink-driver arrested after crashing into tree in Bolsover
A passenger was left seriously injured following the incident on Sunday
A suspected drink-driver has been arrested after crashing his car into a tree and fleeing the scene, leaving his seriously injured passenger behind.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday (December 7) on Station Road, Bolsover.
CCTV captured footage of the red Seat Ibiza skidding through brambles before striking the tree head-on and coming to an abrupt stop.
The passenger required hospital treatment for serious injuries. The driver, a 28-year-old man, fled the scene but was later arrested.
A breath test revealed the driver was nearly double the legal drink-drive limit. He has since been bailed.
This arrest came amid Derbyshire Police’s annual Operation Limit campaign which targets drink and drug driving during the festive season.
During the first week, six people were arrested for drug-driving and 15 others for drink-driving or failing to provide a specimen.
The operation’s highest recorded breath test showed a reading of 93 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, significantly above the legal limit of 35 micrograms.
Two arrests were linked to traffic collisions, including the Bolsover crash.
Chief Inspector Chris Thornhill, of Derbyshire Police, said: “Christmas is fast approaching, and we know lots of people will be heading out for festive gatherings in the next few weeks."
"But no-one wants to find themselves waking up in a cell, or even worse to be responsible for a family hearing their loved one won't be coming home.
"So if you're planning to go out and celebrate this month, then please plan ahead and book a taxi, agree a designated driver, choose somewhere you can walk home from or just stick to non-alcoholic drinks - and whatever you do, don't take drugs.
"Don't be afraid to call out your friends or family too if you think they're planning to drive with alcohol or drugs in their system. Let's make this Christmas a fantastic one, but a safe one where everyone gets home.”