Falkirk drink-driver jailed over crash which 'obliterated' van and hospitalised three men

Daniel Paprot (26) was two-and-a-half times the drink-driving limit at the time of the high-speed smash on a residential street.

The collision occurred about 8.35pm on January 30, 2019 in Ronades Road, Falkirk, which has a 30mph limit.

Falkirk Sheriff Court was told that victims Ross McKay and Dean Dewar were travelling along the road in a Peugeot Bipper van, within the speed limit, when they saw Paprot's black Audi A3 T Quattro Sport approaching “at excessive speed”.

Paprot then lost control and his car “rolled broadside across the carriageway”.

Mr McKay (21) who was driving the van, braked and swerved towards the pavement, but was unable to avoid the nearside of the Audi as it slewed towards them.

Another driver who witnessed the smash told police that the front of Mr McKay's van “obliterated on contact”.

He said there was “debris everywhere and the front nearside wheel of the van was left ‘hanging off’”.

The passenger side of the Audi was extensively damaged and a front-seat passenger in the car, Lukasz Bisewski (30), was trapped and appeared seriously injured.

He was freed from the wreck by firemen and taken to Forth Valley Royal Hospital, where a full-body trauma scan showed he had a fractured pelvis, two fractured vertebrae, multiple rib fractures, a broken collar bone, two broken legs and a broken arm.

He also had an open wound to the right calf and needed plastic surgery on another “large, open” wound overlying his left leg fractures.

Mr Dewar (29) suffered a broken collar bone and Mr McKay had multiple lacerations to his right elbow from which glass fragments had to be removed.

Prosecutor Ronnie Hay said that a blood sample taken from Paprot proved on analysis to contain 125 milligrammes per 100 millilitres, 2.5 times the limit, which is 50.

He was interviewed by police the next day and blamed the incident on the road being “icy and slippy”.

He added: “I lost control.”

Paprot, a first offender, of Merchiston Avenue, Falkirk, pleaded guilty on indictment to a single charge of causing serious injury by driving dangerously at excessive speed while under the influence of alcohol.

Defence solicitor Kevin Douglas said Paprot was a useful working member of society and since the incident he had done his best to support his friend Mr Bisewski, the seriously injured victim.

Mr Douglas said: “Mr Paprot regrets this matter very greatly. Not a day passes without him realising how sorry he is, and he has given up alcohol altogether.”

Sheriff Christopher Shead banned Paprot from driving for five years, in addition to the 18-month jail term.

Explaining his decision to imprison him, he told Paprot: “Having considered the nature of the offence, and all its surrounding circumstances including the injuries involved, the nature of the driving and the particularly significant aggravation of driving having consumed a significant amount of alcohol, the court has reached the conclusion that only a custodial sentence is appropriate.”

Paprot blanched visibly as the sentence was pronounced and he was handcuffed and led down the stairs from the dock to the cells.

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