Drug driver jailed after causing serious head-on crash

Matthew Pullman – who did not hold a driving licence and was driving an ‘unfit’ vehicle - appeared at Chester Crown Court on Thursday, August 25, where he was sentenced to three years in prison.

The 31-year-old, of Jubilee Close, Halewood, had earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving – relating to one man from Hartford and one from Winsford.

Chester Crown Court was told that Pullman was driving a black Ford Galaxy on the wrong side of the road when it was involved in a collision at around 7am on Tuesday, November 2, 2021.

Pullman had two passengers in his car, a 21-year-old man and a 35-year-old man, who were both from Winsford.

As he drove down Bradford Road, he collided head-on with a grey Vauxhall Zafira which was going in the opposite direction.

Following the collision, the driver of the Zafira, a 64-year-old man from Hartford, was rushed to the Royal Stoke Hospital and sustained a ‘catalogue’ of injuries.

These included sternal injuries, multiple rib fractures, bruising to his lungs, a laceration to his liver, an injury to his spleen, a fractured right femur, and a fractured arm - all of which resulted in multiple operations.

A 35-year-old passenger from Pullman’s car also sustained serious injuries, including a fractured spine, rib fractures and a pelvic fracture.

Both men spent several weeks in hospital but have since recovered.

During the investigation, officers found that Pullman was above the drink drive limit at the time of the crash, with 104mg of alcohol in his blood per 100ml (the legal limit is 80mg/100ml).

Matthew Pullman

He also had benzolecgonine (cocaine) in his system.

Examination of his vehicle showed that the Ford Galaxy was not fit to be on the road - both front tyres were bare and the car would not have passed its MOT.

Collision investigators also confirmed Pullman was speeding.

Following the sentencing, inspector Steve Griffiths, head of the serious and complex collision investigation unit, said: “Pullman had never held a driving licence, nor had he even applied for a provisional driving licence.

“Despite this, on the morning of Tuesday, November 2, he got behind the wheel of a car and drove to Winsford with his two friends.

“As a result of his actions that day, two men were left with life-changing injuries and Pullman is now behind bars facing the consequences of his actions.”

In addition to his prison sentence, Pullman was also banned from driving for seven years.