Drink driver on way to death

A grandmother who was caught drink driving three times was on the way to take her own life on one occasion, Gympie Magistrates Court heard on Thursday.

A GOLDEN Beach grandmother who was caught drink driving three times was on the way to take her own life on one occasion, Gympie Magistrates Court heard on Thursday.

Megan Louise Marshall, 53, was found by police sleeping in her car on the side of the road at Chatsworth early on the morning of August 21.

When police approached, the woman screamed and was in a disorientated state, while officers noticed empty beer bottles in the car and the keys in the ignition.

With a blood-alcohol reading of 0.184 - more than three times the legal driving limit, the woman's licence was immediately suspended.

Later that day at 1pm, Marshall was pulled up by police on the Bruce Hwy near Tiaro.

Smelling of alcohol, the woman blew a reading of 0.085.

Last month police followed a vehicle driving on the wrong side of the road on Currie St, Nambour.

When police pulled over the driver, they found Marshall behind the wheel - dishevelled, with red eyes, slurred speech and smelling of liquor. She was found to be driving with a blood-alcohol reading of 0.241 - close to five times the legal limit.

Marshall's lawyer Russell Tannock told the court the grandmother had hit rock bottom and had been on the way to gassing herself with car exhaust fumes, after filling up at a petrol station.

He said his client suffered from alcoholism and depression, explaining the Sunshine Coast woman was on the way to see her son and grandson in Townsville when she was caught drink-driving twice on the same day near Gympie and Tiaro.

"She has damaged most of her significant relationships," he said, giving the humiliation of admitting to her son she had been arrested as the reason she continued on the road, drunk, to visit him, instead of cancelling the trip in August.

He said the offending arose out "a significant psychological breakdown over the course of four to six weeks", but his client was now determined to move forward by starting a rehabilitation program.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Lisa Maans said the defendant not only put herself at risk, but also others using the roads; and urged for a strong deterrent sentence.

Magistrate B. Barrett told the remorseful woman it was in her best interest and the general public that she attend full rehabilitation.

The repeat drink-driver was given a hefty fine of $2000 and a number of licence disqualifications for the six charges, adding up to a total ban of four years and 11 months.

Marshall was also placed on 18 months probation.