Emily Alyce Patch pleaded guilty to drink-driving after crash

A woman who had been drinking with a friend crashed her car into a barrier near Byron Bay’s police station and continued to drive until the car’s wheel fell off.

Emily Alyce Patch, a psychologist from Caniaba, has been disqualified from driving for a year. Picture: Instagram

A psychologist who was more than five times the legal limit drove her car into a metal barrier, just metres from Byron Bay police station, after afternoon drinks with a friend.

Emily Alyce Patch, 31, pleaded guilty at Byron Bay Local Court on Monday to high-range drink driving.

A police blood alcohol analysis after the crash returned a reading of 0.261.

The crash was so close to the station on Shirley Street, officers inside heard the collision about 6pm on August 20 and followed the noise, seeing the car travel an extra 30m towards Lismore.

Emily Alyce Patch, a psychologist from Caniaba, has pleaded guilty to drink-driving. Picture: Instagram

The officers arrived at a totalled silver Mazda CX5, and found a “confused” and intoxicated woman behind the wheel.

Police documents state the Caniaba woman was heavily intoxicated and driving at the same time as families travelling to Byron Bay for dinner.

Emily Alyce Patch was five times the legal blood alcohol limit when she crashed a car. Picture: Facebook

Officers said Patch had “failed to follow the path of the road and had driven directly into the centre of the road’s metal barrier fencing”.

The court heard the car’s wheel fell off but she kept driving until the car would go no further.

“Due to the severe impact damage to the car’s driver’s side front wheel and rim, it was no longer able to drive,” the documents read.

“A serious accident would have been inevitable if she hadn‘t collided with the fence causing her vehicle to stop and police presence.”

Emily Alyce Patch drank a whole bottle of wine with friends before she crashed a car. Picture: Facebook

As officers opened the car door “a strong smell of liquor was omitted” and Patch appeared unaware of what happened.

“Her eyes were bloodshot and her speech was slurry,” police stated.

Police said she admitted to drinking a whole bottle of wine without a meal between 4pm and 6pm that night.

Magistrate Karen Stafford convicted Patch, disqualified her licence for 12 months and issued an intensive correction order with supervision in Lismore for nine months.

The court documents stated Patch would undergo rehabilitation and psychological treatment.