A WOMAN from Corwen who was seriously injured following a crash near Dolgellau in April has been sentenced.

Claire Williams, 41, of Clawdd Poncen, appeared before Caernarfon Magistrates’ Court yesterday (September 25) after pleading guilty to drink- and drug-driving.

The crash took place on the A494 (Rhydymain) shortly before 2am on Saturday, April 13, and involved a black-coloured Ford Focus vehicle which was being driven by Williams.

The road did not re-open until shortly before 11am on April 14.

She was initially taken to Wrexham Maelor Hospital, but was later transferred to a hospital in Stoke, where she remained until May, due to the nature of her injuries.

Following the results of toxicology tests, Williams was interviewed, where she admitted to being the driver of the vehicle at the time of the crash.

Her test results showed that she was driving with an excessive amount of alcohol (97 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood) in her system, and had consumed cocaine prior to the crash.

Williams was handed a 12-month community order, 120 days’ monitored alcohol abstinence, 20 days’ rehabilitation activity, and a 32-month driving disqualification.

She will also pay £85 in costs.

Investigating officer PC Gareth Rogers, of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit at North Wales Police, said: “Driving whilst under the influence of drink and drugs can have serious consequences.

“Claire Williams is lucky that she wasn’t fatally injured – however, she was extremely lucky that she did not harm an innocent motorist during the early hours of that morning.

“It is only right that she admitted the offence by pleading guilty and has been dealt with accordingly by the court.

“Hopefully, she will learn from her completely reckless actions.

“I would ask that, as drivers, we all reflect on how we use our vehicles on the road.

“Choosing to drive when impaired by alcohol and drugs is dangerous and unacceptable and can cause unimaginable harm.

“We are committed to making the roads safer and have a robust strategy around enforcing the ‘Fatal 5’, offences which includes drink- and drug-driving.”