Drink-drive woman banned from roads after crashing into path of train
A driver from Wednesfield who smashed through a fence and into the path of an oncoming train while more than twice the drink-drive limit has been banned from the roads today.
Rosie Webb, aged 20, stopped just inches short of the track after her Seat Ibiza hurtled down an embankment.
An oncoming train managed to stop short of the vehicle near Wythall Railway Station in Worcestershire.
Redditch Magistrates Court heard how Webb got into her car following a row with her boyfriend. She had drank three glasses of wine earlier in the night.
She misjudged a sweeping bend and headed straight on through a fence and down towards the tracks.
Paramedics who attended the scene said she was extremely fortunate not to have been hurt. She did not require attention from ambulance staff.
A spokesman for train operator London Midland said that the driver of the train had helped to take care of Webb before emergency services arrived.
The crash happened at around 10pm on October 6. The service involved was the 9.26pm from Stratford-upon-Avon to Stourbridge Junction.
She had 87 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 35 micrograms.
Webb, of Gorse Road, fought back tears as she was disqualified from driving for 18 months and fined £300 after pleading guilty to drink driving.
She must also pay £305 in court costs.
Mark Soper, prosecuting, said: "She had been with her boyfriend having a meal and had three glasses of wine. When they got home they had an argument.
"For some reason she started to drive her Seat Ibiza vehicle which left the road and went down an embankment down to the railway line.
"From images I saw the vehicle ended up down the embankment within a foot of the train which might have collided with her."
Jason Patel, defending, said losing her licence could lead to Webb losing her job.
He said: "They had gone for a meal with another couple. They got back and started an argument. Following that argument her boyfriend asked her to leave. She got into the vehicle and, she regrets, very foolishly drove down the road.
"The road conditions were wet and the road itself, from what I have been told, has a sweeping bend. In essence, what has happened is she has gone straight on. Fortunately no injury was caused to her or any other individual. Thankfully the train driver was alert and managed to stop 30 to 40 metres away on the tracks.
"There is a complete acceptance of responsibility and deep regret. She had no intention to drive, it was a very foolish decision that she took."
