A pregnant mother, 37, is jailed after causing a horror road crash while she was SIX times over the drink-drive limit.

A pregnant mother has been jailed for two years after causing a horror road crash while six times over the drink limit.

Four members of a family were injured – three seriously – when Charlotte Aitken’s Audi veered onto the wrong side of the road and crashed head-on into their car.

A sheriff said it was clear Aitken had been “significantly impaired” by the amount of alcohol she had consumed and that she was lucky no one was killed.

The mother-of-two, 37, from Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, admitted causing serious injury and endangering lives by driving dangerously while over the drink limit.

Airdrie Sheriff Court heard the crash happened in Cumbernauld on February 28 last year.

Charlotte Aitken, 37, of Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, admitted causing serious injury and endangering lives by driving dangerously while over the drink limit.

Kevin Morrow, prosecuting, said it was a Hyundai driven by a woman whose 13-year-old son was a front passenger. Her husband and daughter, aged 21, were seated in the back seats.

Mr Morrow told the court: “The collision happened at around 6.30pm when it was dark.

“The driver behind Aitken saw her crossing into the opposite roadway. He honked his horn and flashed his headlights to warn her of an approaching Hyundai.

“The Hyundai driver saw the accused’s headlights but did not have time to react and the Audi hit them.

“The defendant, who was traveling between 40 and 50 miles per hour in the 40 mile per hour zone, did not apply her brakes before the collision.”

The unconscious Hyundai driver had to be freed from the wreck. She suffered a deep cut to her kneecap that required surgery, as well as five fractured ribs and a broken wrist.

Her daughter suffered intestinal damage and underwent two operations while her husband suffered fractures to his ribs and sternum and also underwent intestinal surgery.

The couple’s son escaped with bruises, but the court heard he had required cognitive behavioral treatment since the accident.

Mr Morrow said: “A passing motorist helped the defendant, who was semi-conscious, out of her badly damaged car.

Airdrie Sheriff Court

“She was taken to hospital for treatment of a leg injury.

“There was a strong odor of alcohol in her vehicle and she had a positive breathalyzer test.”

Tests showed she had at least 305 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood – the legal limit is 50 mg.

Defense lawyer David Storrie said Aitken, who has two teenage children and is 12 weeks pregnant, accepted full responsibility for the accident, adding: “She expresses remorse and shame for putting people’s lives in danger.

“A social worker says she was shocked when she spoke about the impact of the accident on the victims.

“Since the offense she has taken steps to address her drinking and completed a 16-week treatment program as an inpatient.

“She has significantly reduced her alcohol consumption.”

Passing sentence, Sheriff Paul Haran told Aitken his driving had been “significantly impaired by your consumption of alcohol”.

The sheriff said: “Four people in the other car, including a child, suffered injuries that in some cases resulted in multiple surgeries.

“You are extremely fortunate that this incident did not result in any casualties.

“I recognize that you were struggling with alcohol addiction and poor mental health at the time.

“It is to your credit that you have taken steps to resolve this problem. I take into account your personal situation and the fact that you are expecting another child.

“However, the level of culpability was high… and I see no alternative to a custodial sentence.”

The sheriff also banned Aitken from driving for seven years and ordered him to retake his test.