Redlands Mayor Karen Williams admits drink-driving on budget day

A South East Queensland mayor who led the campaign for safer roads after a teen driver killed two of her constituents has been caught drink-driving.

Redlands Mayor Karen Williams has admitted she drank several glasses of wine before she crashed her car just hours after handing down her council’s annual budget.

Police were on Thursday called to a crash at the intersection of Queen and Wellington streets, Cleveland, about 9pm.

It is understood Cr Williams underwent a roadside breath test before she was taken to hospital for treatment and further blood alcohol testing.

In a statement this evening, Cr Williams said: “Last night I made a serious error in judgment and drove after drinking several glasses of wine.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams

“I am deeply sorry for my actions and am incredibly thankful no one else was involved or injured.

“I will be seeking counselling and will continue to assist police in their inquiries.”

Queensland police have not laid any charges over the incident.

Cr Williams had delivered the budget for the Redland City Council hours before the crash.

She was responsible for launching a petition calling for safer roads earlier this month in the wake of the “lenient” sentence handed to the drink-driver who killed Matthew Field, Kate Leadbetter and their unborn son Miles in a horror Australia Day smash last year.

Cr Williams was the principal petitioner to appeal against the “manifestly inadequate sentence” handed to the juvenile who was drunk and high behind the wheel when he killed the young couple as they walked their dogs.

The petition attracted almost 54,000 signatures.

Cr Williams on Friday night removed her Facebook page which she regularly used to spruik her road safety message, including calling for changes to be made that “persuade judges to hand down sentences that match community expectation”.

Redlands Mayor Karen Williams (right) with Matt Field’s parents Ann and Russell Field and Opposition Leader David Crisafulli (left)

She recently took to the now-removed Facebook page to read a statement on behalf of the Field and Leadbetter families, in which they acknowledge the heartbreak the drink driving juvenile caused their family.

Cr Williams speaks into the camera, saying “as a community we stand with the families of Matt and Kate” and she declares the fight is far from over.

“We do not want any other family to go through what Matthew and Kate’s parents have been through,” she said.

“They shouldn’t have to petition and lobby for justice. There needs to be legislation that guarantees justice for the victims and their families.”

On one video posted to the page criticising the teen’s sentence, Opposition Leader David Crisafulli praises Cr Williams’ efforts, saying, “Thank you for leading this push Karen Williams.”

Cr Williams was elected as a councillor in 2004 and has been mayor of Redland City Council since 2012.

Hours before the crash, she handed down the council’s $396 million budget, which she said was “all about delivering for today while also planning for tomorrow”.