Drink driver

Drink driver crashes car coming off ferry

3 September 2018

An over-the-limit tourist smashed her car into a bollard while driving off the MV Loch Seaforth at Stornoway.

Inga Akerblad and her companions abandoned the vehicle and sauntered off into Stornoway town centre.

Police later traced her on Cromwell Street.

The Swedish traveller was breathalysed and found to be three times the legal limit.

The 61-year-old of Älvsjö, Stockholm, voluntarily appeared at Stornoway Sheriff Court today before she headed off the island on the lunchtime ferry.

She pleaded guilty to driving with 70 microgrammes of alcohol in the breath compared to the maximum 22 mcg limit.

Procurator fiscal Karen Smith told the court that was spotted holding a half full glass of wine on the ferry cardeck as the vessel prepared to dock in Stornoway on Saturday.

She got into the rear of a car.

But the driver appeared to have difficulties in starting the vehicle and got out.

Akerblad went into the driver’s seat.

Concerned passengers alerted ferry staff and police were called.

Akerblad drove the car off the ramp but crashed into a bollard.

She and the other occupants of the car took their suitcases out and walked off into the town, leaving the vehicle at the bollard.

Sheriff David Sutherland disqualified Akerblad for one year and imposed a £350 fine.