Kevin Kurian: Boozy business analyst busted drink driving twice in one night

He was caught driving with more than twice the legal alcohol limit in his system the first time. But police were shocked at the reading when they caught him again a few hours later.

A boozed-up business analyst caught drunk behind the wheel twice in one night continued drinking when he was released from Wollongong Police Station after his first arrest, a court has heard.

Kevin Kulengara Kurian, a 28-year-old Indian national, was sentenced in Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday following guilty pleas to mid-range drink driving and high-range drink driving.

The court heard police witnessed Kurian swerving his Mazda 6 in Gwynneville just after 11.30pm on May 28 this year, at speeds “well in excess” of the 60km/h speed limit.

Police pulled Kurian over on Hercules St where they immediately took the keys out of the ignition before ordering him to exit the car.

When asked why he was driving in a dangerous manner, Kurian said it was because “the roads were quiet”, before then telling police he had not been drinking.

However, his answer changed after he returned a positive roadside breath test, with Kurian telling the cops he’d had one drink an hour prior. He then corrected himself and said he’d had two drinks.

Kurian was taken to Wollongong Police Station where he returned a blood-alcohol reading of 0.115 – more than twice the legal limit – and explained to the officers he had been drinking spirits.

Kevin Kulengara Kurian initially told police he hadn’t been drinking. Picture: Facebook

But the run-in with police didn’t seem to leave a mark on Kurian, who was back behind the wheel – even drunker than before – just hours later.

Court documents revealed shortly after 3.35am, Kurian crashed his Mazda into a parked Toyota RAV4 on Acacia Ave, Gwynneville, with the force of the collision pushing the 4WD into a Toyota Hilux.

Kurian made a botched attempt to escape, reversing up a kerb, narrowly missing a power pole and bogging his vehicle on the sodden grass.

Paramedics arrived on the scene to find Kurian reeking of alcohol and when police arrived they were “unable to communicate” with Kurian.

He was taken to Wollongong Hospital for monitoring where he returned to a blood-alcohol reading of 0.230 – almost five times the legal limit.

In court on Tuesday, defence lawyer David Mewett said Kurian was deeply ashamed and embarrassed by what he’d done.

“The most foolish actions of my client’s life were committed in one night,” he said.

The court heard Kurian had moved from India to Wollongong in 2018 to study at the University of Wollongong, before settling into a career in the Illawarra.

Mr Mewett said Kurian had recently been through a relationship breakdown and a year ago had lost $12,000 in a failed cryptocurrency investment, leading him into a downward spiral.

Kevin Kulengara Kurian leaving Wollongong Courthouse on Tuesday with his lawyer. Picture: Shannon Tonkin

He said Kurian had “self-medicated” with alcohol instead of seeking professional help, but was now receiving the treatment he needed.

In a letter of apology tendered to the court, Kurian said he normally did not openly defy rules and regulations but had “committed sin” by getting behind the wheel drunk.

“Now, I have had to inform my company directors about the incident, and having to explain and answer their question about the incident was extremely embarrassing,” he said.

“As I was on a probation period at work, they informed me during the yearly review, that I will not [be] receiving any increments in salary to discourage such behaviours in the future.”

He also said he “thanked God” he didn’t hit and kill anyone and had abstained from alcohol completely since that night.

“Since the incident, every morning I wake up wishing I could rewind time and stop myself from driving, but I cannot,” he said.

“The only thing I can do is to continue this path of recovery, improve myself to become a productive member of this society.”

Magistrate Chris McRobert fined Kurian a total of $2250 and disqualified his licence for six months.

Kurian will also have to have an alcohol interlock device installed in any car he drives for 24 months after his disqualification period ends.