Drunk driver’s wheel flies off, shatters in reckless getaway

The Stanthorpe man was more than three times the legal limit when he sped off after a late night argument with his girlfriend, before swerving onto the wrong side of the road into the path of a woman’s car.

Stanthorpe man Christopher Herbert Hamish Barwick has narrowly avoided a serious crash after dangerously swerving to miss a parked car with a woman inside. Picture: iStock

Stanthorpe man Christopher Herbert Hamish Barwick narrowly avoided a serious crash after dangerously swerving to miss a parked car with a woman inside.

Police prosecutor Steve de Lissa said the 23-year-old revved the car loudly before taking off and losing control on Railway Street.

“At 7pm on December 6 a witness called police in fear after she believed the defendant was going to collide with her while she was sitting in her car,” Sergeant de Lissa said.

“After swerving onto the wrong side of the road, the vehicle hit the gutter where the driver’s side wheel has come off and shattered.”

The Stanthorpe Magistrates Court heard the 23-year-old came to brief stop at the gutter before accelerating away at excessive speed.

He had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.157 at the time.

Defence lawyer Clare Hine said her client was remorseful and his behaviour was “out of character”.

“On that day he had been at his girlfriend’s home with the intention to stay overnight, but they had an argument and he got into the car, which he regrets,” Ms Hine said.

Magistrate Julian Noud said the man had shown on a number of occasions a disregard for traffic rules and regulations.

“You engaged in serious offending and are fortunate no one was killed, and you weren’t killed,” Magistrate Noud said.

Barwick pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance and contravening a police direction or requirement.

He was placed on probation for 18 months and disqualified from driving for six months.

No conviction was recorded.