Drunk-driver hit elderly couple and crashed into hedge after 'vowing not to drive'

A drink-driver hit an elderly couple walking on the pavement before smashing into a hedge.

Sarah Reese was caught on her dashboard camera claiming she was not going to drive after consuming alcohol.

Moments later, however, the former council worker, from the East Sussex village of Fairlight, reversed her black Seat out of the driveway and drove off erratically.

She swerved around a bend and hit two elderly pedestrians on the opposite side of the road, hurting them both and leaving one with serious injuries.

Reese, 59, then drove downhill down a lane, where she lost control and careered into a hedge, as shown in footage shared by Sussex Police.

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The force is sharing the clip as a reminder of the dangers of getting behind the wheel while over the limit.

In December she was jailed for a total of 18 months and disqualified from driving for three years and nine months.

She had admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving and to driving over the legal limit for alcohol. A blood test showed she had 135mg of alcohol per litre of blood. The legal limit is 80mg.

The court ordered that she will have to take an extended re-examination if she is to be allowed to get back behind the wheel.

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Roads Policing Unit officer PC Nigel Dunn said: “Reese claimed that she was not impaired, but the footage shows how erratic and dangerous her driving was.

“She caused serious harm to an elderly couple who were walking on the pavement, and was lucky that she did not cause further harm.

“Drink-driving is one of the main factors in why people are killed or seriously injured on our roads.

“It should be a warning to every drink-driver not to take the risk with their own safety and the safety of other road users.”

CORRECTION: It was previously reported that Sarah Reese had lost her appeal against her conviction issued in December 2022.

This was inaccurate, the defendant had not lodged a formal appeal against her sentence, as reported by Sussex Police.

Yahoo is happy to publish this correction.