Nicole Marie Pascoe in court for driving under the influence at Cannonvale

A driver with a blood alcohol concentration eight times the legal limit had a “blurry” recollection of events that sent her to hospital.

A Whitsunday sales worker who blew eight times the legal blood alcohol limit after a weekday morning car crash has lost her licence for three years.

Nicole Marie Pascoe, 35, was unconscious and slumped over in the driver’s seat with 0.393 per cent blood-alcohol concentration when police found her at an address on Coral Esplanade about 11.45am on Tuesday, October 5.

Proserpine Magistrates Court heard officers, responding to reports of an “almost out-of-control” car swerving and hitting gutters on Beach Rd, made several unsuccessful attempts to rouse her before calling an ambulance to take her to hospital.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Emma Myors said the car was running with its gear stick in reverse and there was a half-empty one-litre vodka bottle on the passenger seat of the car, which was believed to have reversed into a garage door before coming to a stop.

Nicole Marie Pascoe pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of liquor. Picture: Facebook

Pascoe pleaded guilty to driving while under the influence of liquor.

Defence solicitor John Ryan said his client could not recall where she was driving from or to on the morning of the offence and conceded it was “purely through luck” no one had been killed or injured.

Defence solicitor John Ryan and Cannonvale sales rep Nicole Marie Pascoe outside Proserpine Magistrates Court on Monday, November 15, 2021. Picture: Kirra Grimes

Mr Ryan said Pascoe had been receiving treatment for mental health issues for the past several years, but an incident at a recent family gathering was believed to have “triggered” the alcohol consumption that led to the offending.

“The day before there was a family event, with her partner’s parents visiting,” Mr Ryan said.

“Something occurred – I haven’t been informed at what those details are – but she believes something that happened there triggered an emotional response.

“She did consume a fair bit of alcohol on that afternoon the day before – basically her recollection after that is being picked up by her partner at Proserpine Hospital.

“Up until then, she really has a blurry recollection of what occurred.”

The court heard Pascoe, pictured right, had a 2019 conviction for driving with a 0.134 BAC. Picture: Kirra Grimes

Acting Magistrate Ron Muirhead said Pascoe’s “extreme” BAC reading was the highest he had seen in his 30-year career and had he not heard Mr Ryan’s submissions about Pascoe taking action to address her mental health and alcohol issues, she would have received a six-month jail sentence.

Instead, the sentence was a $5000 fine, and three-year licence disqualification, with a conviction recorded.

“You were in no condition to drive a motor vehicle, as has been shown by what’s happened,” Mr Muirhead said.