Daniel Appleton in Yeppoon court for drink-driving car crash

Still stinking of booze, a concreter who rolled his car and fled the scene had another bad idea when police came knocking.

Daniel James Appleton, 47, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court to driving without due care and attention, and drink driving. Generic image.

A Central Queensland concreter who crashed his car and then fled the scene, has faced court.

Daniel James Appleton, 47, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court to driving without due care and attention, and drink driving.

The court heard that about 9.55am on June 1, Appleton was driving north on Tanby Road at Yeppoon when he was involved in a single-vehicle crash.

“(Appleton) then left the scene of the traffic crash in another vehicle,” police prosecutor Claudia Neill-Ballantine said.

Police arrived at the crash scene about 10am and they saw the vehicle on its side, on a kerb/footpath.

“Police spoke to several witnesses who (said) that no other vehicles or pedestrians were involved (in the crash),” Ms Neill-Ballantine said.

The court heard witnesses also told police Appleton’s vehicle had lost control while exiting the roundabout and rolled.

Ms Neill-Ballantine said later that day, police went to Appleton’s residence, and they found him “lying/hiding” under the home.

She said police noticed Appleton “distinctly smelt of alcohol”.

After a breath test, he returned a reading of .134.

Ms Neill-Ballantine said Appleton told police that he was “sorry” several times.

The court heard Appleton had two previous drink driving offences on his five-page traffic history, but none were in the past five years.

Solicitor Matthew Mallett said Appleton was a single man who worked as a concreter, and references were tendered to the court.

Mr Mallet said Appleton had been drinking at a friend’s barbecue and he made the responsible decision to stay there for the night.

Mr Mallet said after eight hours had passed, Appleton was under the misguided belief he would be right to drive.

“Though seriously mistaken, it (decision to drive) stemmed from a misjudgment rather than a disregard for the law or the safety of others,” the solicitor said.

“(Appleton) deeply regrets this decision to drive and understands the serious risk he posed to himself and other road users.”

Mr Mallet said since this incident, Appleton had completed a traffic offenders program.

Magistrate Lance Rundle fined Appleton $1000 and disqualified him from driving for six months.

No traffic conviction was recorded.