This is the horrifying moment a 31-ton tractor and trailer smashed into a row of terraces after being hit by a drug driver who jumped a red light.
Matthew Cumpsty, 52, had been snorting cocaine when he drove his Mercedes through a road junction without stopping.
Horrifyingly it was struck by a JCB pulling a giant double axle agricultural tanker full of animal waste which lost control.
Footage from petrol station CCTV shows how the runaway tractor and trailer ploughed into a row of terraced houses, ripping off their facades.
Astonishingly, through ‘pure chance’, none of the occupants was injured but one property was subsequently rendered structurally unsafe.
Cumpsty faced up to 12 months in jail after he admitted drug driving and dangerous driving.
But he walked free from court yesterday with a 12-month community order, 200 hours of unpaid work and a 16-month driving ban.
The aftermath of the crash in Chester on April 1 after the 31-ton tractor and trailer struck a Mercedes which Matthew Cumpsty had driven through a red light
Matthew Cumpsty (pictured outside court yesterday) was under the influence of cocaine when his Mercedes struck the tractor, causing it to lose control and smash into houses
The crash happened on the A51 in Chester on April 1 this year.
A court heard that the tractor driver – a Mr Watt – had been driving through a green light when Cumpsty’s Mercedes drove into his path.
A witness driving behind the tractor described how it bounced down the road before colliding with two houses.
Tests revealed that Cumpsty, of Great Broughton, was under the influence of benzoylecgonine, the breakdown product of cocaine.
When quizzed by police he said he had a ‘comprehensive knowledge’ of the junction and could not recall seeing a red traffic light.
‘He accepted his standard of driving fell below that of a careful and competent driver,’ Andy Page, prosecuting, told Chester Magistrates Court.
Both Cumpsty and the driver of the tractor were treated in hospital as a precautionary measure and were later discharged.
Representing himself, Cumpsty – who had a previous caution for unlawful drug possession from 2008 – said he was ‘devastated’ at what had happened.
The tractor and trailer – containing animal waste – caused massive damage after ploughing into the terrace of houses in Chester
Astonishingly no occupants of the houses were injured when the tractor and trailer smashed into them at 6.30am on April 1
He was also ordered to pay £199 in costs and surcharge.
A fundraiser launched for one of the affected residents, Darren Kearn, raised £3,365.
Mr Kearn, who lived in an upstairs flat, said he was woken by a ‘very, very loud bang’ as the tractor and tanker crashed into the front of the property.
He ran out of the house in just his pyjamas but was not allowed to return to collect any belongings due to fears that the building would collapse.
The only possessions he had after the incident were his cat, rescued by fire officers at the time, and clothes donated by the Red Cross.
He was provided with temporary hotel accommodation by the local council.
Mr Kearn later told the BBC: ‘It is very shocking – it does sort of bring a knot to your stomach.
‘When you get to 44 you don’t think about having to replace everything that you own and start over again.’
After yesterday’s hearing PC Richard Phillips, of Cheshire Police, said: ‘While Cumpsty has shown remorse for his actions, the impact of his actions that day were life-changing and it was pure chance that nobody suffered any serious injuries.
‘As a result of one bad decision to get behind the wheel while under the influence, several families were left homeless and commuters travelling into Chester were left with serious disruption for several weeks while repair work was undertaken.
‘In addition, Cumpsty is facing a lengthy driving ban, I hope that this ban will give him time to reflect on his actions that day.’
