A man whose van skidded and crashed into another car, seriously injuring three people, was fined €2,500 and banned from driving for three months.

Joseph Grech, 63, was driving along Dawret Street in Gudja on February 12, 2006, when he lost control of his Isuzu van and smashed into a Kia Mentor.

Josephine Cunningham was driving the Kia where, riding as passengers, were her husband Raymond, her sister Carmen Briffa and her brother Indrì Briffa. Both Ms Cunningham and her sister sustained injuries which took five months to heal.

Testifying, Ms Cunningham said she saw the van skid, cross the road onto her lane, swerve and hit the back of her car with its side.

She sustained injuries in all of her toes and could not walk for two months.

Testifying in March 2007, Ms Briffa had corroborated her sister's version, saying she spent a month in hospital, could not leave her house for another five months and still had to wear a collar for support.

Two police officers who were among the first on the scene said Mr Grech had a strong smell of alcohol and had refused to take a breathalyser test.

Mr Grech testified in June 2008. He recalled that he was driving at about 45 miles an hour when, all of a sudden, his van skidded out of control.

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli said the prosecution amply proved that the accused had been driving dangerously.

She found Mr Grech guilty of causing serious injury to Ms Cunningham and her sister, driving dangerously and at speed and refusing to take a breathalyser test.

Police Inspector Joseph Agius prosecuted.