A driver who was high on cocaine ploughed his BMW into a cyclist - leaving him with life-changing injuries. Craig Nightingale crashed into the cyclist, who was wearing a high-vis vest, at around 40mph causing the man to be thrown into the air and left fighting for his life in hospital.
The 43-year-old from Wigan has now been jailed after a court heard how blood tests revealed he was under the influence of cocaine and benzoylecgonine at the time of the horror collision.
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Liverpool Crown Court heard how at 6.18am on Thursday 21 May, 2020 a BMW 118 being driven by Nightingale collided with a wall at McColl's store on Lovely Lane in Warrington.
Nightingale failed to stop and made off from the scene. Just 15 minutes later he was involved in the collision with the cyclist on Winwick Road at 6.33am. Eyewitnesses said the cyclist was highly visible, wearing a high-vis jacket and blue backpack.
Despite that, the court heard Nightingale failed to react to the cyclist and hit from behind while travelling at approximately 40mph. The impact of the crash left the 45-year-old man with internal bleeding, a broken leg, broken ankle and fractured neck.
He was arrested at the scene on suspicion of drug driving after failing a roadside test. Officers also discovered a knife in his car. A blood test later revealed that he was under the influence of cocaine and benzoylecgonine at the time of the collision.
Nightingale, of Kingsdown Road, Abram, was jailed for three years and 10 months on Friday 20 May, after previously admitting causing serious injury by dangerous driving, two counts of drug driving and possession of a knife in a public place.
Following the sentencing Police Constable Gary Nicholls, who led the investigation, said: "This case demonstrates the life-long repercussions of driving under the influence of illegal drugs. On the morning of the collision Nightingale took the decision to drive, despite the fact that he was under the influence of cocaine.
"As a result of that decision, a totally innocent man sustained life-changing injuries and Nightingale is now behind bars. While the victim is slowly starting to recover from his physical injuries, this incident will impact him for the rest of his life.
"I hope that the conclusion of the case and the sentence handed to Nightingale will give him some closure and allow him to move forward with his life knowing justice has been served."
In addition to his prison sentence Nightingale was also banned from driving for seven years and 11 months.
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