Birmingham City star ‘lucky to be alive’ after drink-drive crash

Birmingham City star Marvin Ducksch has been told he is lucky to be alive after causing a serious three-car crash while over the drink-drive limit. The German international was told he was lucky he had not killed himself and two female drivers in the late-night crash as he was ordered to pay the victims £1,000 each in compensation. Leamington Spa Magistrates’ Court heard Ducksch stopped at the scene and checked on the other motorists, one of whom had a nosebleed and injuries to her forehead and thumb.

The 32-year-old pleaded guilty on Wednesday to driving his Mercedes with excess alcohol, namely 53mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, above the legal limit of 35mcg. Magistrates were told the charge related to a collision on the A3400 near Henley-in-Arden in Warwickshire at around 10. 30pm on Easter Monday.

The crash happened hours after Ducksch had appeared as a substitute in Birmingham’s 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town at Portman Road. In a prepared statement to police, the court heard, Ducksch said he was driving home and admitted ‘he did have alcohol before he drove’ and had ‘clipped an oncoming car and another one following behind’ (PA) Prosecutor Lina Akther told the court: “The defendant identified himself to the officers and confirmed he was involved in the collision. “The defendant stated to the officers that he was driving and he went to change his music and crashed and he wasn’t sure how.

” As a result of the crash Ducksch, who also claimed to have been avoiding a tree branch in the road, was arrested and breath-tested. In a prepared statement to police, the court heard, Ducksch said he was driving home and admitted “he did have alcohol before he drove” and had “clipped an oncoming car and another one following behind”. Ms Akther said: “He thought he would be under the limit and the defendant was apologetic in his prepared statement.