Killarney Vale: Kristie Merrett, 51, charged with drugs and high range drink-driving after crash

A woman who allegedly blew four times over the legal limit after a horror crash, which left an eight-year-old boy fighting for life, has faced court where she was also charged with possessing drugs.

Police talk to a 51-year-old woman (inside an ambulance) who was driving a Lexus SUV that was involved in a crash where a boy, 8, was seriously injured. Picture: NewsLocal

A woman who returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.197 after a horror smash, in which a young boy was critically injured, has faced court.

Kristie Fiona Anne Merrett faced Newcastle Bail Court on Thursday after spending a night in custody following her arrest yesterday.

The 51-year-old was allegedly behind the wheel of a black Lexus SUV which ploughed into a Toyota sedan at the intersection of Mort St and George Evans Rd at Killarney Vale about 12.45pm on Wednesday.

Emergency services were called to the scene where an eight-year-old boy was trapped in the wreckage of the Toyota until he could be cut free.

He was treated at the scene for critical head injuries by paramedics before being taken by ambulance to nearby EDSACC oval where he was met by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter which flew him to John Hunter Children’s Hospital.

The black SUV Ms Merrett was allegedly driving (right) and the Toyota sedan where the boy was trapped before being freed. Picture: NewsLocal

The driver of Toyota, a 42-year-old woman, was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics for minor injuries on scene.

Ms Merrett was taken into the back of an ambulance where she underwent a roadside breath test, which allegedly returned a positive result.

Ms Merrett was uninjured in the crash. Picture: NewsLocal

She was taken to Gosford Hospital before being taken to Gosford Police Station where she recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.197 — nearly four times the legal limit.

Tuggerah Lakes Police established a crime scene which was forensically examined by specialist police from the Crash Investigation Unit.

Ms Merrett was later charged with a string of serious traffic offences including high range drink-driving, aggravated dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, possessing a prohibited drug and causing bodily harm by misconduct while in charge of a motor vehicle.

She was remanded in custody to appear at Newcastle Bail Court on Thursday where she was granted strict conditional bail to reappear at Gosford Local Court on January 27.

As part of her bail conditions Ms Merrett will have to reside at Bellingen on the Mid North Coast, report to the local police station up there three days a week and abstain from alcohol and illicit drugs.

She also agreed to forfeit $1000 surety and not occupy the driver’s seat of a vehicle.

Her licence was also suspended.