Elizabeth Grace Buhler, 29 from Logan Central, jailed for Loganholme, drunk car crash

What started as a Logan mum test driving a car, turned into a 120km/h, Bundaberg-rum fuelled crash, as the passenger went flying and the driver did something unbelievable.

Elizabeth Grace Buhler, 29, was jailed in Beenleigh District Court for a drunken, speeding car crash

What started as a Logan mum test driving a car, turned into a 120 km/h, Bundaberg-rum drinking crash, as the passenger/car-owner went flying through the air with almost fatal consequences.

On July 12, 2021 Elizabeth Grace Buhler arrived at a house in Loganholme to test drive a car she was interested in buying, heard Beenleigh District Court on October 27.

Buhler was drinking a Bundaberg Rum premixed can but the owner of the car did not know how intoxicated she was.

Buhler was driving at 120 km/h on a 60 km/h road and refused to slow down, despite three pleas to reduce the speed from the passenger.

The 29-year-old Logan Central mother of four approached a bend in the road but did not slow down, hit an embankment and the car became airborne.

The court heard Buhler was pregnant at the time of the crash but was unaware.

When the car came crashing down to the road, the passenger hit her head on the car and was flung from the vehicle.

Buhler assisted the injured passenger but also drank another can of Bundaberg Rum, then told police she hadn’t had much to drink.

When police arrived they tested Buhler’s blood alcohol concentration and it was estimated to be between 0.189 and 0.230 at the time of the crash.

The victim suffered a spinal injury, fractured wrist and was left with permanent ongoing injuries as a result of the crash.

Buhler pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle causing grievous bodily harm while adversely affected by alcohol and excessively speeding.

Judge Deborah Holliday said Buhler’s offending was aggravated as she was serving a suspended prison sentence at the time of the crash.

“You were on a suspended sentence at the time and have a history of driving while intoxicated,” she said.

“This is clearly serious offending, you drove while intoxicated and speeding and caused grievous bodily harm to the victim.”

Buhler was sentenced to four years prison, eligible for parole after serving one year behind bars.

Her driving licence was also disqualified for four years.