A JUDGE has jailed a man who caused a head-on collision in front of diners at a McDonald’s.

Adrian-Silviu Petrit, of Goodman Park, Slough, was today (February 14) locked up after his drink driving left a fellow motorist with a fractured knee cap, a punctured lung and four broken ribs in a ‘moment of recklessness’.

The incident occurred at around 6pm on October 30, 2020 when Petrit was driving on Windsor Road near the McDonald’s restaurant.

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He was caught behind a lane of stationary traffic and tried to go around it when he crashed head-on into an oncoming car.

The driver behind the wheel of the oncoming car told police he remembered slamming on the brakes but a collision could not be avoided.

He was immediately taken to the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford where he underwent three operations in two weeks.

The man still walks on crutches following the incident.

Prosecutor Sarah Porter said Petrit’s speech was slurred and his eyes were glazed when police arrived at the scene.

The 33-year-old later failed a breath test and was found to have 36 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the limit being 35mcg per 100ml.

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The court later heard Petrit had been drinking beers with a friend at a birthday party before getting behind the wheel.

There was no evidence of how fast the driver was going at the time of the incident, however.

Mark Butler, defending, said: “he is desperately remorseful for what happened and he is constantly concerned for the vicitm and how he is doing.

“There is no doubt he regrets his mistake.”

Mr Butler asked His Honour Judge Nawaz to suspend Petrit’s sentence but the barrister’s appeal was waved away.

He said: “The victim’s injuries were caused by your moment of recklessness.

“Somebody who gets behind the wheel of a motor vehicle is in essence in charge of a dangerous weapon.

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“Even crashing at a slow speed can cause serious injury.

“This incident took place near a McDonald’s where one can imagine children and other diners being about.

“This was deliberate risk-taking on your part and you were driving while your ability was impaired.”

Judge Nawaz sentenced Petrit to 28 months behind bars for causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He will serve half this term before being eligible for release.

The 33-year-old was also banned from driving for two years upon his release.

Petrit was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Monday, February 14.