Early one March morning last year, the man in his 60s got into the car in Ålesund and headed for Bergen, a journey of about 42 miles. After about 28 miles it narrowed. In the Norevik tunnel in Høyanger municipality, the man crossed into the opposite lane and collided head-on. In the other car sat a family with two children. The blood test four hours after the collision showed a blood alcohol level of 1.78. Stopped to drink more vodka In November, the man had to stand trial in Sogn og Fjordane district court. In the explanation, the man said that he had started drinking vodka in the afternoon and throughout the evening and night – until he fell asleep. Early in the morning the next day he got into the car to drive to Bergen. He says to the court that he stopped at Skei and drank “a few good sips” of vodka before driving on. The man also explained that he knew he was under the influence of alcohol when he was driving. He himself suffered a broken foot and a broken sternum, while the driver of the other car was badly injured with several broken ribs and internal bleeding. High speed The court heard statements from a witness who was overtaken by the man before the accident. Both explained that he had been driving very fast. Based on passing through the toll station and until the emergency services were contacted, the police could calculate that the journey had taken just under 34 minutes, and that the man had an average speed of 88.54 km/h. The court believed that it had thus been proved without doubt that the man had driven without being careful enough. Something the man admitted to criminal liability for having done. Did he cost close to NOK 700,000 When the court had to assess the penalty, it was aggravating that the man had driven so far with 2 in the blood alcohol limit, and that even in a collision with serious damage. In addition, the man was previously convicted of drink driving in 2013. The man was sentenced to 120 days in prison and must pay a fine of NOK 100,000 and also lose his driving license “forever” or for at least five years. He must also pay NOK 162,954 to the insurance company. He must also pay compensation totaling NOK 300,000 to the driver and the children in the other car.
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