A Belgian motorcyclist has received a six-month suspended prison sentence after crashing in one of Monaco’s road tunnels while more than three times over the legal alcohol limit, narrowly avoiding a potentially fatal outcome…
The 36-year-old IT specialist lost control of his motorcycle shortly before 2:00 am on Thursday, June 25, while travelling towards Nice after an evening of drinking with friends in the Principality. He crashed heavily into the tunnel wall and was later found to have a blood alcohol concentration of 2.30 g/L, a level the court noted was close to that associated with an alcohol-induced coma. As reported by Monaco Matin, the presiding judge questioned how anyone in such a condition could believe they were capable of driving safely, while prosecutors described the defendant as fortunate to have survived.
Appearing before the Criminal Court with visible injuries, the defendant admitted his actions had been reckless, apologising and acknowledging he should never have ridden the motorcycle. Prosecutors warned that Monaco had witnessed too many serious road tragedies and stressed that the consequences could easily have been far worse, including the loss of life.
Although his lawyer argued that the accident had left his client deeply traumatised and unlikely to reoffend, the court refused to remove the conviction from his criminal record. He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, suspended, fined €300 for failing to maintain control of his motorcycle, and banned from driving in Monaco for one year.
