An HGV driver who was involved in fatal collision in Northumberland was found to be over the limit for drugs.
It was stressed in court that Craig Heal didn't cause the accident, which killed 20-year-old Drew Kyle Docherty, from Crawcrook, and did what he could to avoid it. However, a drugs swipe later revealed that the 32-year-old had Benzoylecgonine (BZE), a breakdown product of cocaine, in his system.
Newcastle Magistrates' Court was told that the crash happened on the crossroads junction of the B6309 and Lead Road, near Stocksfield, on February 2 this year, and involved Heal's Renault Recovery Truck and a Mazda 6. Emergency services attended and the driver of the car, Mr Docherty, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
