Liwen Xu: Drunk driver hit friend Yoon Hin Chong in Sydney CBD
A serial drink driver got behind the wheel of a luxury car and smashed into a pedestrian as he was sick of waiting for a taxi. The 26-year-old, who was four times over the limit, then later found out the man he had run down was a close friend of his.
Central Sydney
Don't miss out on the headlines from Central Sydney. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Drunk who set fire to convent with nuns inside sentenced
- Kensington: Charges laid over double bus crash at Kensington
A serial drink driver who ploughed into and injured a pedestrian in Sydney’s CBD while behind the wheel of an expensive convertible decided to drive drunk because he was sick of waiting for a taxi, a court has heard.
Chinese national Liwen Xu, 26, from Olympic Park, was driving a BMW 435i convertible with a female passenger when he collected a pedestrian crossing the road at traffic lights in Haymarket during the early hours of May 21.
The pedestrian Yoon Hin Chong – who happened to be Xu’s friend – was flung onto the road at the intersection of Quay St and Ultimo Rd.
The windscreen of the BMW was smashed in the crash and the victim was taken to hospital with injuries including cuts to his head.
Xu was more than four times over the legal alcohol limit at the time of the crash and fronted court on Thursday to be sentenced for high-range drink driving and negligent driving which he pleaded guilty to.
The court heard that Xu has two prior drink driving offences on his record from 2015 and 2016 and he decided to drive drunk because he was left waiting too long for a taxi.
The agreed facts stated Xu was uncooperative with police after the crash and continually changed his version of events.
Xu’s defence lawyer said his client was very remorseful and had visited his friend to apologise about hitting him.
“To say it was a big mistake is an understatement,” his lawyer said. “He is just thankful no-one was more significantly injured that night.”
His lawyer also said Xu, who was accompanied by an interpreter in court, did not own the BMW and was borrowing it the night of the crash.
Magistrate Jennifer Price said it was a high breath analysis reading of 0.216 and his decision to drive “was clearly to avoid any inconvenience of having to wait any longer”.
She also took into consideration his past drink driving record and decided Xu must receive a term of imprisonment for the serious offence.
Xu, who is residing in Australia on a visa and holds a Chinese driver’s licence, received a 12-month term of imprisonment to be served by way of intensive correction in the community with supervision.
She also convicted him on both charges and ordered he complete 100 hours community service work, disqualified him from driving for 12 months (to be followed by an interlock licence), and ordered he abstain from alcohol for 12 months.
Xu’s past drink driving offences included a mid-range offence in 2015 and special-range offence in 2016. He is unemployed.