Sheldon Andrew Wade crashed into two parked vehicles in shocking drink driving accident

A drunk driver had an open beer in his car when he ploughed into two parked vehicles and dragged them for more than 18 metres in a shocking crash on a busy Goulburn street.

A drunk driver had an open beer in his car when he ploughed into two parked vehicles and dragged them for more than 18 metres in a shocking crash on a busy Goulburn street.

Sheldon Andrew Wade, 48, appeared in Goulburn Local Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to high-range drink driving through Goulburn on April 14.

The court heard the Pomeroy resident had been drinking for more than five hours at the local Hibernation Hotel, drinking approximately eight schooners of beer and three bourbon and cokes before he decided to get behind the wheel.

Sheldon Wade Andrew crashed his car into the business ute of a local company.

With a half-full beer beside him, the court heard Wade was driving 80km/hr in a 50km/hr zone when he crashed into a parked motorbike on Addison St at 10.30pm. He dragged the bike for more than 21 metres before the bike fell away, according to the police facts.

The court heard Wade continued driving without a pause and smashed into a Mazda ute, which he dragged for approximately 18 metres. Photos of the scene show the force of the crash caused the ute to tip over onto its side and spill its contents across the road.

The court heard all three vehicles were badly damaged by the crash, which left a 92 metre long trail of destruction in its wake.

Wade was hospitalised after he suffered six fractured ribs, a fractured sternum and cuts to arms and hands. The court heard he returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.204, more than four times the legal limit.

Sheldon Andrew Wade seen leaving Goulburn Local Court on September 29.

Magistrate Geraldine Beattie told Wade he was “incredibly lucky” not to have killed himself or someone else in the crash.

“This is one of the most serious ones I’ve seen and I see a lot of drink drivers,” she said.

Magistrate Beattie said Wade made a “selfish” choice to put the community at risk after drinking all evening.

“You knew what you’d had to drink but you still decided to drive for your own convenience,” she said.

Wade’s lawyer Rod Boyd told the court his client had “very little memory” of the crash. The court heard Wade had developed a heavy dependency on alcohol, for which he is now undergoing counselling.

Wade told police he was “disgusted by himself and his actions” and the court heard he is paying reparations for the damage he caused.

Magistrate Beattie said the safety of the community was the highest priority for the court.

“People should be able to feel safe on community roads,” she said.

She sentenced Wade to a 12-month intensive corrections order with 250 hours of community service and directed him to abstain from alcohol and continue to engage in alcohol counselling.

Wade will be disqualified from diving for eight months, and will be forced to drive with interlock for two years.

“You came very close to going to jail,” Magistrate Beattie said.