Kane John Juckes crashed his car into a roundabout then walked home to drink more booze

Police were patrolling Yeppoon on the Capricorn Coast when they were waved down by a driver who told them that a car had just lost control at a roundabout. Here’s what happened.

A Yeppoon drink-driver crashed his car into a roundabout and then walked home to drink more booze.

Kane John Juckes, 23, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on February 17 to drink-driving.

The court heard that on August 27 last year, about 9.30pm, police were patrolling Yeppoon when they were waved down by a driver who told them that a car had just lost control on Braithwaite Street/Adelaide Park Road roundabout.

The car went onto the roundabout with the front end protruding onto the road, Police Prosecutor Sergeant Kevin Ongheen said.

Sgt Ongheen said the car sustained damage to numerous panels and the engine was dislodged from the engine bay.

“The vehicle was unattended and there were no occupants beside the vehicle,” Sgt Ongheen said.

Police checks of the vehicle’s registration revealed Juckes owned it.

Witnesses who were walking in the area at the time of the crash provided police with a description of the driver.

Police went to Juckes’ residence and spoke with him.

Officers could see that he was affected by alcohol.

When questioned, Juckes said he had driven the vehicle that evening to the Railway Hotel to pick up a friend and he said he was almost involved in a crash on the roundabout while returning home.

“He stated another vehicle had pulled out of Power Street in front of him, he drove heavily, oversteered, resulting in the mounting of the roundabout,” Sgt Ongheen said.

“He further stated he proceeded to walk home and had some drinks when he got home.”

Juckes was breath tested and returned a reading of .122.

The court heard that Juckes had no previous drink-driving offences on his history.

Solicitor Krissy Cummins said Juckes, a labourer, lived in Yeppoon with his mother and younger brother.

Ms Cummins tendered a letter to the court in support of Juckes from his employer.

In relation to this incident, Ms Cummins said CCTV footage showed Juckes walk out of the Railway Hotel and he did not appear to be intoxicated.

Ms Cummins said Juckes took evasive action at the roundabout.

“He walked home from the incident and was extremely shaken up,” she said.

Ms Cummins said when Juckes got home he drank to calm his nerves.

Before handing down penalty, Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale noted that Juckes’ employer was “very impressed” with him as an employee.

She also took into account that Juckes had been without a driver’s licence since August.

Juckes was fined $650 and disqualified from driving for three months.