A DRINK driver who ploughed into a pensioner and fractured his skull was more than twice over the legal limit.

On Tuesday, October 9 at 11.35pm, Vincent Riley, of Tildsley Crescent, Runcorn, hit a 68-year-old man, who was walking on the pedestrian crossing on Heath Road, in a Peugeot 306 convertible.

The impact of the collision caused the pedestrian to be thrown into the air and left him with life threatening injuries, including a fractured skull, a broken shoulder and a broken leg.

Riley was arrested at the scene after a breathalyser found him to be more than twice over the limit.

He had 90 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of his breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Riley appeared at Warrington Magistrates’ Court earlier this month where he pleaded guilty to drink driving as well as driving without due care and attention.

The 58-year-old was handed a 12-month community order with a six-month alcohol treatment requirement, along with a 20-week curfew preventing him from going out between 8pm and 6am.

He was also disqualified from driving for two years and ordered to pay a £350 fine, £85 court costs and a £85 victim surcharge.

Police constable Liz Thompson said: “This case demonstrates the repercussions of driving under the influence of alcohol.

“On the night of the collision Riley took the decision to drive, despite the fact that he had drunk several alcoholic drinks.

“As a result of his decision the victim has been left with life changing injuries and Riley has now lost his driving licence and has a curfew, which will have a serious impact on his personal life and his livelihood.

“Thankfully, despite all the injuries he sustained, the victim is slowly starting to recover from the incident.

“After months of hospital treatment and physiotherapy, he is now starting to rebuild his life.

“While he and his family will never be able to forget what happened on that night, I hope that the conclusion of the case will give them some closure and allow them to move forward with their lives.”