How Jena Tuuta crashed car on Central Qld train tracks

For the first time, the dramatic events which led to a car crashing and getting stuck on train tracks at a Central Queensland crossing, can be revealed.

Jena Kaye Tuuta (inset) was sentenced in Gladstone Magistrates Court on April 9.

The dramatic events which led to a car crashing and getting stuck on train tracks during the early hours of the morning in Central Queensland last month, have been revealed.

At 2.40am on March 17, Gladstone police were called to the single-vehicle crash at a railway crossing at the intersection of Brendonna Road and Jim Whyte Way, Burua.

Once there, officers spoke to people who said the female driver was no longer at the scene and they told police where she could be found.

Police located the driver, Jena Kaye Tuuta, and she told them she had been drinking alcohol with friends at a caravan park about 100m from the incident prior to getting in the car and crashing it.

Gladstone Courthouse.

Tuuta, 38, accepted this version of events in Gladstone Magistrates Court on April 9 where she pleaded guilty to drink-driving and unlicensed driving.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Tanya Griffiths said Tuuta told police that prior to driving she had drank two bottles of Passion Pop, got into an argument with her friends, and decided to try and “remove herself from the situation” by driving home to Boyne Island.

“(Tuuta) told police she attempted to negotiate a right hand turn onto Jim Whyte Way and lost control of the motor vehicle in the gravel,” Sgt Griffiths said.

“She stated her car ended up on the train tracks - unable to move as the wheels were off the ground, the car body balancing on the tracks.”

Sgt Griffiths said a passer-by stopped to assist and winched Tuuta’s vehicle off the train tracks.

Tuuta subsequently returned a blood alcohol reading of .132 and the court heard she was also unlicensed at the time of driving.

It was told Tuuta had no criminal history and a “very minor” traffic record.

A self-represented Tuuta didn’t make any submissions.

Magistrate Mary Buchanan fined her $750 and disqualified her from driving for six months.

A traffic conviction was recorded.