A DRINK driver who was lucky to walk away from a horror smash on the A130 has been disqualified from driving and fined more than £1,000.

Tarun Luhar, of Kents Hill Road, Benfleet, was arrested following a collision between the Sadlers Farm roundabout and the A1245 on July 8.

The 49-year-old was driving a Mercedes at around 10.15pm when he undertook a vehicle, collided with another after misjudging the speed at which it was travelling and collided with the metal barrier running alongside the road.

Officers called to the collision suspected he may have been drinking and arrested him on suspicion of driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs.

Luhar was taken into custody where a breath sample revealed 52 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of his breath.

He was later charged with drink driving and pleaded guilty to the offence at Southend Magistrates’ Court on December 5, 2016.

Luhar was disqualified from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay a £750 fine, £200 court costs and a victim surcharge of £75.

His sentencing comes just days after the launch of Essex Police’s Christmas anti-drink and drug driving campaign on December 1.

This year’s campaign aims to raise awareness of the consequences of drink and drug driving through the eyes of officers who witness them first-hand.

Investigating Officer Liz Ferris, from the Canvey Community Policing Team, said: “I have witnessed first-hand the devastation caused by drink driving.

“When I arrived at the scene to find debris all over the carriageway I feared the worst and was shocked that everyone walked away without serious injury.

“Everyone was extremely lucky but it could have easily been a different story.

“The message is simple - if you want to drive, please don’t drink. “I hope the driver in this case will learn a very valuable lesson from the sentence handed down by the courts.”