Sneezing fit caused driver to crash on the A1 at Dromore

Michael Wylie (28), Church Road, Portadown, admitted driving without due care and attention on June 29 this year.

He also pleaded guilty to failing to stop and failing to report an accident.

Wylie was fined a total of £300, with a £15 offender’s levy, and given three points.

The court heard that at 1.43am police received a report of an accident at the Lurgan Road, Dromore, on the A1 dual carriageway.

There was a lot of debris across the lanes and damage to the barriers on both sides of the road.

Two persons had been in the vehicle and one had an injury to his foot.

They had been given a lift to Sprucefield where the passenger was complaining about the injury and an ambulance was called.

Wylie was arrested for the offences and at Lurgan custody suite a breath test gave a reading of 24.

The defendant, who represented himself in court, said he was driving to Lisburn from Gilford.

He had taken a couple of drinks in a house and his friend was with him.

Wylie told the court he had taken a fit of sneezing and lost control of the car, making contact with the central reservation before going back onto the other side of the road.

He claimed he was going to report the accident when he got to McDonald’s at Sprucefield. He was the owner of the vehicle which had now been scrapped.

Wylie added that it had been an accident and he was very sorry.