Man Disqualified After Driving into River

Darren Baker from Wallingford has been disqualified for 12 months and fined £150 after driving his Ford Ranger pick up truck into the river on 7 January 2021, this week.

In January, he drove down Thameside, struck a lamppost, went through two concrete bollards on the pavement and plunged into the water.  The vehicle was stopped being fully submerged thanks to the moorings.  A member of the public helped Mr Baker to safety and a member of staff from Hobbs of Henley offered him a change of clothes and a warm drink.

Police took preliminary tests at the scene which showed no alcohol but traces of cocaine.  He was taken to Abingdon police station where he agreed to give a blood sample but they couldn’t find a vein.  He was then asked to provide a urine sample but was refused privacy so refused to give a sample.

Mr Baker pleaded guilty for not providing a urine sample.

The bollards were installed by Oxfordshire County Council in February 2020 for the safety of pedestrians.  The damaged ones are yet to be replaced.