Zoe Murphy, of Blue Haven, sentenced for drug driving and crashing into a parked car
A Blue Haven woman who crashed into a parked car while affected by meth and prescription medication has told a court she could have killed someone.
Central Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Central Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Blue Haven woman who crashed into a parked car because she was drug affected has told a court she was “completely disgusted” in herself.
Zoe Murphy, 48, was sentenced in Wyong Local Court on Monday after pleading guilty to driving under the influence of drugs and negligent driving.
Murphy was driving on the morning of August 25 last year when she collided with a parked vehicle on Roper Road, Blue Haven.
According to police facts, emergency services were called just after 9.20am, with police arriving shortly after.
When officers arrived, Murphy was seen standing next to her vehicle and was asked to move off the roadway.
“The accused was dishevelled, emotional, unsteady on her feet and slurring her speech,” the police facts state.
Police questioned Murphy about what had happened and conducted a breath test, which returned a negative result for alcohol.
Murphy told officers she had taken 5mg of Valium at 4.30am that morning.
As she was “highly emotional, unsteady on her feet, had slurred speech” and provided an inconsistent version of events, police conducted a sobriety test.
Officers took photographs of the vehicle before it was towed from the scene.
After being assessed by paramedics with no reported injuries, Murphy was taken to Wyong Hospital.
A forensic pharmacologist later determined that Murphy was under the influence of the combined effects of methylamphetamine and bromazolam to the extent that her driving ability was impaired.
Murphy told the court she had completed a traffic offenders program and was completely disgusted with herself.
“I could have killed somebody, as well as myself.
“I was two years clean. I lost my girlfriend to cancer, and I was grieving — I still am. It doesn’t excuse my behaviour, but I just wanted you to know I am disgusted and upset with myself.”
Magistrate Justin Peach said Murphy had articulated exactly what could have happened.
“You could have killed yourself and someone else. You collided with a car, and luckily there was no one in it,” Mr Peach said.
“You were significantly under the influence of these drugs when police spoke to you, and now you find yourself here.
“Had this been a case where you had a prior record for something similar, jail would have been an option.”
Murphy was convicted, fined $2200 and disqualified from driving for 12 months.
Judge doobie: Man found wearing socks on hands after courthouse car theft
A man who was due to face a magistrate instead opted to steal a car outside a courthouse high on drugs before he was found by cops slumped at the wheel – and wearing his socks on his hands.
Gun, meth seized following hair salon arson probe
Police have allegedly seized a gun and over one kilogram of methamphetamine during a series of arrests across western Sydney and Central Coast following an investigation into an arson attack of a hair salon.