Andrew Peter Knapton in court for driving four times the limit

A Palmview father blew more than four times the legal limit when police were called to an accident near the Bruce Highway.

Andrew Peter Knapton leaves Maroochydore Court House. Picture: Patrick Woods.

A Sunshine Coast man was caught driving four times the legal limit after he downed vodka and got into a car accident on a road near the Bruce Highway.

Palmview man Andrew Peter Knapton, 45, appeared at Maroochydore Magistrates Court on July 8 and pleaded guilty to one count of driving under the influence of liquor.

Police prosecutor James Allen told the court police were called to an accident on a road in Palmview underneath the Bruce Highway about 1pm on June 21.

Police found the car in the middle of the road with a flat tyre.

Knapton - the driver of the vehicle - appeared to have glazed eyes and smelled of liquor when officers approached him, the court heard.

Knapton told police he had downed vodka straight from the bottle but he was unsure how much he had consumed, Mr Allen said.

Andrew Peter Knapton leaves Maroochydore Court House. Picture: Patrick Woods.

He blew 0.205, more than four times the legal limit, when officers tested him.

Knapton slightly shook as he addressed the court.

He told the magistrate what happened was “absolutely atrocious” and was treated well by officers considering the incident.

Knapton said he had two young children and is currently staying with his mother in Brisbane.

Andrew Peter Knapton leaves Maroochydore Court House. Picture: Patrick Woods.

He told the court he had been sober for the past five and a half years prior to the incident.

Magistrate Rod Madsen said he was lucky to have not caused injury or even killed himself or another person.

He fined him $1300 and disqualified him from driving for three months.