THIS is the shocking moment a driver filmed herself inhaling laughing gas at the wheel before causing a horror crash.
Georgia Hunter’s Citroen was left on its roof in a hedge in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, in June last year.
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Newcastle Crown Court heard Hunter was within the alcohol limit despite drinking Prosecco and beer that night.
But she had high levels of a cocaine breakdown product in her system, putting her seven times the legal amount.
Her terrified backseat passenger asked her to stop and wanted to get out.
He suffered a fractured skull, spine, eye socket, sternum, bleeding on the brain and broken teeth during a nighttime accident on a dark road.
The 17-year-old front seat passenger was left with a broken pelvis, sciatic nerve damage and fears her injuries could prevent her from having children in the future.
A third passenger, who was not seriously injured, told police: “I’m surprised I survived.”
The 22-year-old, from South Tyneside, admitted two charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and one of drug driving.
She has already been jailed for two years, with a four-year traffic ban.
Hunter, who also suffered “horrendous” injuries in the crash, was told by Judge Stephen Earl that his behavior was “catastrophically stupid” and it is “absolutely incredible” that no one died.
Judge Earl said: “It is one of the worst non-fatal dangerous journeys I have ever seen.
“It was an accident that happened, that was waiting to happen.”
Prosecutor Susannah Proctor told the court: “Seven videos from her cellphone showed her filming herself while driving inhaling laughing gas from the balloon.
“She was screaming ‘I can’t even drive’ as the man in the back asked her to stop.”
One of the shocking videos found on the device was played in court.
The court heard that Hunter had collected his passenger from the front seat at around 5pm on June 9 last year.
They went to the Lakeside pub in Jarrow, where they bought alcohol and sat in the beer garden, but left after an argument with a group of women.
Hunter then drove them to the Soho Tavern in Gateshead, where they met two men.
They stayed there until closing, although the women went out for about half an hour to buy laughing gas.
Nitrous oxide – the facts
Nitrous oxide – also known as laughing gas or hippie crack – was recently classified as Class C due to the dangers associated with the drug.
It can cause a range of health problems and, in some cases, can even be fatal.
Some common side effects of inhaling the gas are dizziness, nausea, disorientation, loss of balance and leg weakness, according to a study on its risks published in National Library of Medicine.
Nitrous oxide can impair memory and thinking, the research mentioned. Some users may also feel anxious or paranoid.
According to Alcohol and Drugs Foundation (ADF), the gas from nitrous oxide lamps is intensely cold, sometimes as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius.
Inhaling directly from the canister or crackers – handheld devices used to ‘break’ the canister open – can cause burns to the nose, lips and throat, even the vocal cords.
The icy cold of gas cylinders can also cause frostbite on your hands.
Intense and prolonged use of laughing gas can cause a lack of vitamin B12. Severe deficiency can cause serious nerve damage, causing tingling and numbness in fingers and toes.
A lack of B12 can also cause damage to the spinal cord.
In some cases, frequent and prolonged use of nitrous oxide has been associated with thromboembolic events – this means that a blood clot has become stuck and caused an obstruction.
So-called laughing gas has also resulted in deaths.
The court heard the group planned to go to a working men’s club but it was closed and they traveled in the Citroen along Banesley Lane in the town.
Miss Proctor added: “The male passenger described her driving erratically, driving too fast for the road.
“The defendant, during the trip, inhaled laughing gas from the balloons while driving.
“He knew the effect this would have on her and asked to leave the vehicle. He told the defendant he wanted to leave.
“She replied ‘I’m a good driver’ before speeding off.
“He said she wasn’t in control, he remembers double-checking her seatbelt.”
The court heard that Hunter was seen “wandering, shouting and screaming” after the crash.
Fiona Lamb, defending, said Hunter works in a doctor’s surgery, has a supportive family and has mental health problems.
Miss Lamb said Hunter is genuinely remorseful for what happened and has scars that will remind her of what she did.
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