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Lorry driver who was three times over limit for cocaine is jailed for killing cyclist

"This tragedy has broken us all," says victim's brother...

A lorry driver who had more than three times the legal limit for cocaine in his system when he killed a cyclist has been jailed for three and a half years.

Joseph Large, aged 32, also tested positive for cannabis after running over 50-year-old Paul Thompson while driving his ship loader lorry in Wolverhampton in November 2018, reports the Express & Star.

He pulled out onto the road and hit Mr Thompson, claiming afterwards that the sun had been in his eyes, but a jury at Stoke Crown Court found him guilty of causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drugs.

He was also banned form driving for two years, with the judge telling him: “You had a duty of care whilst driving a vehicle of that size, especially to vulnerable road users.

“But you were complacent about your knowledge of the junction and this was an avoidable accident.”

The victim’s brother, Stephen Thompson, read a statement out to the court.

He said: “This tragedy has broken us all. My brother Paul had all his life in front of him. He was being made redundant. He worked out his finances.

“He had bought a new bike for his 50th birthday and made plans to go to Scotland and Europe. But his dreams will unfortunately never be realised.”

“There was a time after the crash when I felt sorry for the driver and this was a tragic accident which the driver had to live with for the rest of his life.

“But when I found out further details, this turned to anger. The selfish behaviour of this driver has ruined so many lives.”

PC David Crump, from the West Midlands Police serious collision investigation unit, said: “As a professional lorry driver, Large's driving should have been of the very highest standards.

“But he got behind the wheel of a 32-ton lorry having previously consumed cocaine and as a result of his actions Mr Thompson sadly lost his life.

“Our thoughts go out to Mr Thompson’s family at this difficult time.”

He added: “We would urge anyone to think twice before driving if they have had alcohol or taken drugs, as they can be putting the lives of other people in danger, as well as putting their own safety at risk.”

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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13 comments

Avatar
fixit | 4 years ago
0 likes

is there a limit to cocaine??

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roubaixcobbles replied to fixit | 4 years ago
1 like

10 micrograms per litre for cocaine, 50 micrograms per litre for benzoylecgonine (cocaine metabolite).

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carlosdsanchez | 4 years ago
3 likes

Don't really get how this is only "careless" driving and not dangerous. Both the ban and the prison sentance seem woefully inadequate for killing somone while driving high on coke.

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Stuk | 4 years ago
4 likes

A much more appropriate legal outcome than this... https://road.cc/content/news/270399-no-evidence-drug-driver-caused-teen-...

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pmurden | 4 years ago
2 likes

How can there be a legal limit for driving on coke??????

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Mungecrundle replied to pmurden | 4 years ago
6 likes

I expect that we all have minute though detectable traces of all sorts of illegal drugs, amongst other environmental contaminants, in our systems, picked up from handling cash for example.

2 years loss of driving licence is pathetic. Should be a mandatory life ban for causing death or serious injury in such circumstances.

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kt26 replied to Mungecrundle | 4 years ago
0 likes

Exactly this. There are all sorts of ways of getting certain substances, in your system, traces may even be in the food you eat.

My favourite example is alcohol is orange juice, which gets stronger as it ferments.

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hawkinspeter replied to kt26 | 4 years ago
1 like

Poppy seeds (e.g. on bread rolls) can trigger a false positive for heroin/opiates.

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ktache replied to hawkinspeter | 4 years ago
1 like

The poppy seed thing is not a false +ve, they contain opiates, opiates come from the poppy.

The illegal drugs trade is so all encompassing that most of our notes were contaminated with cocaine.  Was the case with "paper" notes, may be less of the case with the plastic.

We will therefore have these drugs in our bloodstream, who hasn't inadvertainly imbibed the cannabis that is so obviously being smoked on our streets.

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kt26 replied to ktache | 4 years ago
0 likes

I reflect back on my time working at McDonalds during Uni, there were lots of rules on when you needed to wash your hands (and rightly so). But one the dirtiest thing anyone would touch is money, but you weren't required to wash your hands between serving cash paying customers.

Of course it's mostly changes now with the self service.

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EK Spinner | 4 years ago
1 like

"had more than three times the legal limit for cocaine in his system"

Legal limit ? when did we legalise cocaine use in the UK ?

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Rome73 replied to EK Spinner | 4 years ago
1 like

Exactly my thoughts! What is the legal limit of cocaine in 'the system' ? 

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OldRidgeback replied to Rome73 | 4 years ago
2 likes

Lukas wrote:

Exactly my thoughts! What is the legal limit of cocaine in 'the system' ? 

I've no idea what the legal limit is but bear in mind that synthetic cocaine in the form of novocaine is an ingredient in a number of prescription drugs. Therefore, it's likely that there is a legal limit for trace quantities of cocaine in your system. 

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