Clarke Carlisle charged over alleged drink driving offence days before lorry collision

The former footballer remains in a Leeds hospital

Clarke Carlisle (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Former Leeds, Burnley and Queens Park Rangers defender Clarke Carlisle was charged with an alleged drink driving offence just days before he was seriously injured in a collision with a lorry.

The 35-year-old ex-footballer remains in a Leeds hospital following the accident on the A64, near York, on 22 December.

The Metropolitan Police have confirmed Carlisle was charged with failing to provide a sample on 20 December and is set to appear in court next month.

A statement from the Metropolitan Police said: "Clarke Carlisle, 35, was charged on Saturday, 20 December with failing to provide a specimen and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

"He is due to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on 20 January 2015."

The reason for Carlisle’s accident remains unclear, but a North Yorkshire police spokeswoman has confirmed they are "pursuing all avenues".

Support has flooded in for hoping the former Professional Footballers' Association chairman since the accident, wishing him a quick ad full recovery.

Yesterday, his wife Gemma Carlisle tweeted: "Thank you for continuing messages of support and for media restraint. Clarke still very poorly but we're hopeful he'll make a full recovery."

Additional reporting by Press Association