VOTE 2010: Gravesham Labour candidate arrested after crash (From News Shopper)

VOTE 2010: Gravesham Labour candidate arrested after crash

9:17am Thursday 29th April 2010 in News By Michael Purton

LABOUR parliamentary candidate for Gravesham Kathryn Smith has been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving after crashing her car into a roundabout.

The incident reportedly took place in University Way, Dartford, at the junction of Joyce Green Lane, at around 10pm on Monday.

It is understood she was breathalysed at the scene and asked to provide a blood sample.

It took firefighters around an hour to cut her from her Renault Laguna and she was taken to hospital with minor injuries and discharged herself in the early hours of Tuesday.

A Kent Police spokewsoman said: "A 49-year-old woman from Welling has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving following a road traffic collision on April 26.

"Only one vehicle was involved in the collision at University Way, Dartford, at around 10pm. The car appears to have collided with a roundabout.

"The woman was taken to hospital with injuries which are not believed to be serious."

In a statement to News Shopper, Miss Smith denied she had been arrested.

She said: "I did have a serious crash but was not arrested."

A Labour south east spokeswoman said: "Though no charges have been brought, these allegations are of a serious nature and are currently subject to investigation by Kent Police.

"As such, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time."

Ms Smith was back on the campaign trail on Wednesday morning, meeting people in Gravesend town centre.