Drink-driver Michael Shane Roskell blew .225 after crashing into a tree

Things went from bad to worse for a Yeppoon drink-driver and former CQ mine worker as police attempted to pull him over on a residential street. Here’s what unfolded.

A Yeppoon drink-driver crashed into a tree as police were trying to pull him over. Generic image.

Police at Yeppoon were attempting to intercept a high-range drink-driver when he crashed into a tree on a residential street.

Michael Shane Roskell, 42, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on April 7 to his offending.

The court heard that about 6pm on January 23, police were conducting mobile breath testing when they attempted to pull over Roskell.

“On that attempted intercept, the vehicle has crashed into a tree... he (Roskell) was unsteady on his feet, (had) slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and a strong smell of alcohol,” police prosecutor Senior Constable Pete Rumford said.

Roskell returned a blood alcohol reading of .225.

The court heard that Roskell had a one-page traffic history.

Solicitor Joanne Madden said Roskell had celebratory drinks before driving.

“He said that he hadn’t eaten all day, heard the (police) sirens and went to pull off the road, hit the gutter and then hit the tree,” Ms Madden said.

Ms Madden said Roskell had been working in the mines but he had lost that job.

Before handing down penalty, Magistrate Jason Schubert noted Roskell had a drink-driving offence on his history from 2009.

The magistrate then blasted Roskell for this latest offence.

“You’re driving on our roads at four-and-a-half times the legal limit, and in doing so you have placed innocent members of this community’s lives at considerable risk,” Mr Schubert said.

“Your behaviour is totally unacceptable.

“In sentencing you, I need a sentence that stops you and other people in the community drink-driving at such a ridiculous high range.”

Mr Schubert fined Roskell $1600 and disqualified him from driving for 13 months.