Cairns police charge Parramatta Park man after alleged drink driving and taxi crash

Police are alleging a Cairns man driving a taxi was more than five times over the legal alcohol limit when he crashed and fled.

Police have charged a Parramatta Park man after he allegedly crashed a Cairns taxi. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

Police are alleging a Cairns man driving a taxi was more than five times over the legal alcohol limit when he crashed and fled on Thursday night.

Officers charged a 40-year-old Parramatta Park man after a Toyota Camry taxi he was allegedly driving collided with and knocked over a light pole near the corner of Aumuller and Gatton St, just after 10pm, Thursday.

It will be further alleged the man abandoned the vehicle and fled before officers located him at a Minnie St address a short time later.

The man was subject to a breath alcohol test at Cairns Police station which allegedly returned a result of 0.289.

Cairns police headquarters. PICTURE: STEWART MCLEAN

He was charged with one count each of drive under the influence of liquor and drive without due care and attention.

His licence was immediately suspended.

He is due to appear before the Cairns Magistrates Court on March 24.

Cairns Taxis is not suggested of any wrongdoing but chief executive Bob Epps said the car was not operating as a taxi at the time of the incident.

Mr Epps said the driver of the vehicle was an associate of the owner of the taxi.

He said he initially feared it may have been stolen, but that was not the case.

“But that (cars being stolen) is a big problem for us at the moment, about one a week,” he said.

Originally published as Cairns police charge Parramatta Park man after alleged drink driving and taxi crash