Stella Matthews in court for drink driving

Laying on the ground near her damaged car, a drunk driver who had just caused two accidents, including smashing into a car with a woman and small child inside, was about to return a shocking blood alcohol reading.

A Fraser Coast woman who got behind the wheel when her blood alcohol content was almost six times the legal limit hit a parked car with a woman and child inside, then drove another 100m before crashing into a brick wall.

Stella Matthews, 37, pleaded guilty to drink driving and failing to stop and give particulars after the crash when she faced Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

The court heard during the first incident, Matthews hit a parked car on Watson St in Pialba, which had a woman and a young child inside.

The impact threw the woman sitting in the vehicle into the windshield.

About 30 seconds later, Matthews crashed into a brick wall on George St.

When police arrived, she was laying outside the car with its door open, covered in vomit, the court was told.

Stella Matthews, 37, pleaded guilty to drink driving and failing to stop and give particulars after an accident, when she faced Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Matthews was the sole occupant of the vehicle.

She was taken to Hervey Bay Hospital where a sample of blood was taken, which revealed a blood-alcohol level of .291.

Magistrate Trinity McGarvie said the reading was “a significant one”.

Matthews told the court she had been struggling after a break-up but she knew that was no excuse.

“I’m very sorry I put the community in danger,” she said.

Magistrate McGarvie said Matthews was “clearly grossly impaired” when she got behind the wheel.

She was working at a plant nursery and was receiving counselling for her depression, anxiety and issues with alcohol, Matthews told the court.

Matthews was fined $400, placed on nine months probation and disqualified from driving for 15 months.