A motorist who collided with a lorry in Louth had cocaine in his system

A motorist who was charged with 13 counts of dangerous driving following a collision with a lorry on the M1, subsequently tested positive for having cocaine in his system at the time, Dundalk district court heard last week.

Carl Cervi of Walterstown, Castlebellingham pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Newtownbalregan, Tateetra and Balregan, Dundalk on August 8th 2023 and drug driving.

A further 10 counts of dangerous driving were withdrawn last Wednesday after the plea was entered.

The investigating garda told how when she was sent to the scene at 22.40 a silver BMW was facing southbound in the north bound lane, and the rear driver's side of the trailer and axle of a Mercedes lorry was damaged.

READ NEXT: Motorist reversed into a parked car in Dundalk and drove off, court heard

The truck driver sustained minor injuries to his neck, back, hands and wrists.

Carl Cervi was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes hospital where a blood sample was taken which came back positive for cocaine.

The court heard a number of witness statements were taken of "extensive dangerous driving on the M1"

The defendant had three previous convictions, none of which were for road traffic offences.

The Defence solicitor said his client was going through a particularly toxic breakup at the time and had been drinking heavily and using drugs but is trying to get himself on the straight and narrow and is attempting to set up his own carpentry business.

He added he accepts he was the cause of the collision and is aware that his driving was unacceptable and he should not have been driving with what was in his system.

Judge Nicola Jane Andrews said it could have led to fatalities - both himself and other road users.

She fined the defendant €210 for both offences and imposed 120 hours community service, in lieu of a three month sentence for the dangerous driving charge along with a four year driving ban, with a concurrent two year disqualification for drug driving.