and received an 18-month disqualification of his driver's licence in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Charles Gregory Smith, 43, of Cottage Hill Road, Hamilton Parish, lost control of his car on Palmetto Road on June 5, court was told.

Prosecuting, Police Sgt. Peter Giles said Smith went off the road shortly before 8 p.m. and knocked over a signpost, then crossed into the oncoming lane and collided with a cycle.

The man driving the cycle suffered fractures of his left leg and right ankle, while his wife suffered a compound fracture of her right knee, Sgt. Giles said.

Smith, who Police found lying on his back and smelling of alcohol, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and impaired driving.

Before the accident, Smtih's car was seen speeding down Palmetto Road in the pouring rain, Sgt. Giles said.

Smith told Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis his car had a blow-out just before the accident. "It was raining cats and dogs,'' he said.

"The road was very wet. I could hardly see.'' Mr. Francis said: "This was an exceedingly bad bit of driving. No doubt your inability to handle the vehicle at this point was due to alcohol.'' The judge handed Smith a $500 fine and an 18-month licence disqualification for dangerous driving, and a $500 fine and a 12-month disqualification for impaired driving. The disqualifications are to be served concurrently.