Alexander Hecimovic: Drunk P-plate driver gets car stuck over freeway at North Sydney
A drunk P-plater was three times over the limit when he wedged his sedan on a narrow pedestrian overpass above some of Sydney’s busiest expressways. See what happened in court.
Manly
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A drunk P-plater blew three times over the limit after his car became wedged on a popular pedestrian overpass on a Saturday night – above one of the busiest expressways in Sydney.
Alexander Salmond Hecimovic, 21, was behind the wheel of a Hyundai Elantra when he tried to drive across the narrow walkway that spans the Bradfield Highway, Warringah Freeway and Cahill Expressway at North Sydney.
But the car became stuck just metres after Hecimovic drove the sedan onto the overpass, at the eastern end of Ridge St, at 11.45pm on January 11, Manly Local Court was told.
The pedestrian walkway is used to get across the 10-lanes of traffic on the expressways and is a popular walking route between the North Sydney CBD and Neutral Bay.
Hecimovic’s Legal Aid solicitor told the court on Thursday that her client thought the pedestrian bridge was an extension of Ridge St.
“He doesn’t know the roads in the area very well,” the solicitor told Magistrate Lisa Stapleton.
The court was told that Hecimovic, of West Pennant Hills, and a friend, had been drinking earlier in the evening at Balmoral Beach, Mosman, before he decided to drive home.
When police arrived at the overpass, they saw the Hyundai, which had scratches down its sides, trying to reverse off the bridge, according to a facts sheet tendered to court.
The car was further damaged when the passenger tried to direct Hecimovic on which way to steer the car off the bridge.
Police found Hecimovic with bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. Officers also discovered a “half-consumed bottle of liquor” in the car.
“Throughout the encounter (Hecimovic) was severely argumentative and uncooperative with police inquiries,” the facts sheet stated.
The court heard that Hecimovic and his friend “repeatedly” changed their versions of how the car ended up on the walkway and who was actually driving the car.
But the passenger eventually confirmed that Hecimovic was the driver.
“He was substantially over the limit,” Ms Stapleton said.
“How do I know this?,” she asked. “Because he tried to drive over a pedestrian overpass.
“He was a danger to others.”
Hecimovic, who pleaded guilty to one count of high range drink driving, was convicted.
He was handed a community correction order to be of good behaviour for two years.
His licence was disqualified for six months.
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