Dat Tran: Pendle Hill pharmacist, sentenced for drunk CBD bus crash

A drunk pharmacist, dealing with a struggling business and failing marriage, smashed his Porsche Turbo into a bus in Sydney’s CBD while four times the legal alcohol limit.

A pharmacist Dat Tran has been sentenced after he drove while four times ove the alcohol limit and crashed his Porsche into a parked bus in the city. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A highly successful pharmacist who makes $200k a year from three businesses has been sentenced for crashing his Porsche into a bus while drunk.

Dat Tran, 54, appeared in Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to high range drink driving and negligent driving after he unsuccessfully applied to have the charges dealt with on mental health grounds.

Tran owns a pharmacy in Pendle Hill.

Agreed facts tendered to court state Tran – who lives at Northmead and owns property in Newport and Rouse Hill – was driving his silver Porsche Turbo in Sydney’s CBD about 7.30pm on September 20.

While on Clarence St, Tran’s car mounted the median strip and he continued driving. He was swerving and lost control of the car before he crashed into the bus.

Dat Tran (right) appeared in Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

The collision caused extensive damage to both vehicles, including a tyre coming off his car.

Tran got out of the car and walked away but returned a short time later and police were called.

Officers could smell alcohol coming from Tran, who was sluggish, unsteady, confused and his eyes were glassy and he was mumbling his words.

Tran tested positive to a breath test before returning a reading of 0.204, four times the legal limit. His licence was immediately suspended.

The documents also state Tran tried to contact his wife multiple times from the police station despite being the subject of an apprehended domestic violence order which prohibited him from contacting her for at least 12 hours after drinking.

The court heard Tran had major depressive and alcohol use disorders and was “spiralling” at the time of the crash because his businesses were struggling and his marriage was deteriorating.

Magistrate Alison Viney said Tran’s actions needed be “condemned” because he put the public at risk.

She said it was therefore not appropriate to deal with the charges under the Mental Health Act, despite acknowledging his disorders.

Dat Tran appeared in Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Ms Viney noted Tran’s prior good character and lack of criminal and traffic history, and sentenced him to a community correction order for 12 months.

“You are someone with a higher level of training than the rest of us and you have the ability to understand the dangers of alcohol and therefore you understand the level you were drinking at was dangerous,” she said.

“Self medicating with alcohol as a form of release for depression is never going to have a successful outcome.

“The ability to control a vehicle was undermined by the quantity of alcohol you consumed.

“There was potential danger to other road users and other people.”

Ms Viney said Tran had sought psychological treatment but he was not actively addressing his problem.

However she noted that may have been difficult given his depression but he had maintained businesses and been “successful in life”.

Ms Viney acknowledged Tran was now abstinent from alcohol and had sought treatment for his dependency.

Under the order, Tran must maintain monthly contact with his psychologist for 12 months, be abstinent from drugs and alcohol and be of good behaviour.

He was disqualified from driving for six months, backdated to when his licence was suspended, will have to have an interlock device fitted to his car and was fined $800.