A medical professional under training, Nayer Youakim, caused a serious accident by driving while intoxicated, leaving a taxi driver with severe injuries in North Shields, North Tyneside. The incident occurred late on November 24, 2024, when Youakim, a registrar aiming to become a consultant, drove onto the wrong side of Beach Road and collided head-on with the taxi.
Youakim, who was found to be twice over the legal alcohol limit, initially claimed to have consumed only “two pints” when questioned by the police after the crash. However, tests conducted both at the scene and in custody revealed he had 72 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the legal limit of 35 micrograms.
According to the prosecution, the taxi driver had just finished dropping off a passenger and was on his way home when the collision occurred. The impact left the taxi driver with a fractured shoulder and arm, a swollen hip, and suspected broken ribs, requiring hospitalization. In a statement, the driver expressed anger over the incident but also gratitude for surviving the ordeal.
Youakim, residing in Solihull, West Midlands, pleaded guilty to charges of causing serious injury through dangerous driving and driving under the influence. Despite the severity of the offense, Recorder Mark McKone KC decided to suspend Youakim’s 18-month prison sentence for two years. Additionally, Youakim was ordered to perform 250 hours of unpaid work, pay £150 in costs, and received a two-year driving ban with a requirement to pass an extended test.
Laura Miller, representing Youakim, characterized the incident as a “remarkable lapse of judgment” and emphasized his sincere remorse and efforts to understand his actions. She highlighted that the incident was uncharacteristic of Youakim and emphasized his commitment to learning from the experience to prevent future offenses.