An “extremely dangerous and selfish” HGV driver was so drunk behind the wheel, it took 16 hours in custody before he was in a fit state to be questioned, according to police.
Polish national Petro Dziadevuch (pictured), 65, was jailed for 16 weeks after he was spotted on the A1 driving his loaded 44-tonne refrigerated lorry by two other lorry drivers who were concerned about his erratic and unsafe driving.
They both used their own vehicles to bring Dziadevuch to a stop and then called South Yorkshire police.
He was breathalysed at the roadside and blew 165; the legal limit is 35.
Roads Policing Sergeant Mark Smith said: “His decision to drink while driving a vehicle of that size and load was not only extremely dangerous and alarming but selfish.
“Dziadevuch’s actions could have caused a fatality on our roads.
“The HGV drivers who brought Dziadevuch to a stop demonstrated how majority of those who drive lorries for a living understand the dangers large vehicles pose to other road users and adhere to the standards and laws in place to minimise that risk, and I would like to thank them for stopping a serious or fatal incident from occurring.
“I am pleased that the courts have seen the severity of Dziadevuch’s actions.”
The HGV driver appeared before Doncaster Magistrates’ Court and as well as jail time he was also disqualified from driving for 32 months and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £128 and court costs of £85.
