Drunk retiree Declan Treacy avoids jail for crash near Caringbah school pick up
An elderly Caringbah man who blew more than five times the legal alcohol limit has been sentenced for a multi-vehicle crash near a primary school.
St George Shire Standard
Don't miss out on the headlines from St George Shire Standard. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Caringbah retiree‘s “fantastic driving record” has spared him a jail sentence after a wine-induced peak hour crash near a Sutherland school.
Declan Treacy, 68, learnt his fate in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday after previously pleading guilty to high-range drink driving.
Documents tendered in court revealed the elderly man was “going for a drive” when he careered into multiple cars on Cawarra Rd, Caringbah, on Friday, October 14, last year.
Witnesses told investigators they saw Treacy driving dangerously before losing control of his Mazda ute and colliding with three parked cars outside Caringbah North Public School.
The owners of the vehicles tried to make Treacy stop, however, he turned on to Booyong Ave where he remained until police arrived at the location.
Officers noticed Treacy wreaked of alcohol and slurred his words as he slumped over the driver's seat.
Treacy failed the initial roadside breath test before being arrested and taken to Sutherland Police Station.
The court documents stated Treacy told police he had consumed an unknown quantity of alcohol and that he then “went for a drive to Cronulla”.
On the follow-up breath test, Treacy recorded a blood-alcohol reading of 0.274 – more than five times the legal limit.
In court on Tuesday, Treacy’s lawyer, Ben Hart, said the father of three had, prior to this offence, “lived an unblemished life”.
Mr Hart also submitted Treacy experienced a medical episode in November, last year, which saw him spend time in hospital for “a number of weeks” and requested Magistrate Philip Stewart consider a community correction order.
Mr Stewart obliged, describing the potentially catastrophic incident as an “aberration” on an otherwise “fantastic driving record”.
Treacy was convicted and handed an 18-month CCO.
He was also ordered to complete 150 hours of community service and banned from driving for six months.
When he is allowed to get behind the wheel again, he will be required to use an interlock device for two years.
Final $7.3m twist in Roxy Jacenko scandal
Roxy Jacenko’s recent “giveaway” scandal has finally come to a conclusion - one to the tune of $7.3 million.
‘Med inspired’: $10m facelift to turn Botany Bay club into oasis
The multimillion makeover of a southern Sydney waterfront venue is drawing closer as it gets ready to become a “Mediterranean-inspired oasis” in time to celebrate its centenary.