Coach crash driver was over limit

A coach driver from West Bromwich was over the limit while at the wheel of a bus which crashed on a motorway slip road and was driving dangerously.

Les Weinberg, who was driving the National Express coach when the accident took place at Newport Pagnell services on the M1 in September, today pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and drink driving.

He had 145 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80.

More than two dozen passengers were injured in the crash, with some having to crawl free through the vehicle's skylights.

Weinberg, 35, of Meyrick Road, Hill Top, who was also injured. Thirty of the 34 people on board the Birmingham to Stansted service were hurt, six of them seriously. He was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence by the judge.

Judge Christopher Tyrer at Aylesbury Crown Court said:"I don't need to tell you this is serious. The circumstances for you are very grave. As a result of your intoxication, you mistook where you were and mistook the exit of the motorway and a number of people were seriously injured."

He said the offence was way past the custodial threshold. He will be sentenced at the end of May .