Daniel Jay Muddle pleaded guilty to drink driving

A road train driver had been drinking at the wake of a mate killed in a car crash when he made an “unwise decision” involving a golf buggy and Canadian Club. DETAILS.

Daniel Jay Muddle pleaded guilty to drink driving when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court this week.

A road train driver who had been drinking at wake for a friend killed in a crash made the “unwise” decision of driving a golf buggy along the footpath of one of Maryborough’s busiest streets.

Daniel Jay Muddle pleaded guilty in Maryborough Magistrates Court guilty to drink driving.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Sonia Edwards said on October 19 about 10.30pm, Muddle had been seen on the buggy, along the footpath on Alice St near Fort St in Maryborough

Police did a U-turn and saw Muddle holding a can in one hand, she said.

Muddle told police it was his mate’s buggy, Sgt Edwards said, and he was taking it out for a test drive as it had issues with the steering.

When asked about the drink in his hand, Muddle told officers it was a Canadian Club.

Sgt Edwards said police told him the buggy was a vehicle to which Muddle replied that he was unaware it was illegal to drive it on the footpath while drinking.

However, Muddle was detained and returned a breath test reading of .201.

Sgt Edwards said Muddle was pleading guilty at the first opportunity.

Daniel Jay Muddle pleaded guilty to drink driving when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court this week.

She said it wasn’t a purposeful act, and it was 10.30pm at night when there weren’t many people around.

Duty lawyer Warren Hunter said Muddle had been drinking because there had been a wake for a “very good friend” who had been killed in a B-double crash at the beginning of October.

Muddle was a road train driver who had driven hundreds of thousands of kilometres, Mr Hunter said.

His traffic history was unremarkable given the amount of time he spent on the road.

Mr Hunter said he accepted it was a high reading, but the circumstances of driving a golf buggy on a pathway were a “far distant cry” from being in a car.

Magistrate John Milburn said Muddle was a contributing member of the community and had been mourning the loss of his friend.

He said Muddle’s choice to be on the buggy was “not a wise one” given the level of alcohol in his system.

But Mr Milburn accepted the risk to the public was less significant than might have otherwise been the case.

Muddle was fined $650 and disqualified from driving for six months.

No conviction was recorded.

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