Driver who overturned truck on M11 while 4 times over alcohol limit jailed

A driver who overturned his truck while four times over the legal alcohol limit has been jailed for 16 weeks.

Latvian Maris Voitkevics overturned his fully-laden HGV on the morning of 25 November on the M11 between junction 8 for Stansted Airport and junction 9 near Newmarket. This incident caused the M11 to be closed for about 17 hours.

Officers from Stanway Roads Policing Unit arrested Voitkevics at the scene on suspicion of drink driving. When tested, he was found to have four times the permitted level of alcohol in his blood.

Voitkevics, 45, pleaded guilty to the charge of drink driving at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on 27 November and was given a 16-week jail term as well as being ordered to pay £200 costs. He was also given a 32-month driving ban, which will start when he is released from prison.

Sergeant Colin Shead, from Stanway Roads Policing Unit, said: “We are very lucky that Voitkevics’ actions did not have far graver consequences. He was driving a fully laden 44-tonne lorry and the fact that nobody was injured or killed, is far more down to luck than anything else.

“My team and I are pleased that Voitkevics will serve time in prison, and I very much hope this causes him to reflect on his actions.

“Drink driving is a serious offence, and you can be sure that our officers will take swift and definite action against anyone they suspect of getting behind the wheel of a vehicle while above the legal limit.”

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