Nicole Thompson admits drink driving during Maccas run
A drunk woman who was driving at almost five times the legal limit after socially distanced lawn drinks during the height of COVID-19 restrictions thinks she was on her way to Engadine Maccas when she crashed her car – three times.
St George Shire Standard
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A woman caught drink driving at more than four times the legal limit thinks she was attempting a Maccas run before she crashed into two parked cars and that of a good Samaritan who came to her aid.
Nicole Thompson, 41, was charged with high range drink driving on April 24 after socially distanced drinks with a friend on her front lawn in Engadine took a dark turn.
In documents tendered to the court police say Thompson hit a parked Subaru Forrester on Numantia Rd, swerved across the road and ploughed into a Nissan Navara.
“A witness who had seen the initial collision stopped his vehicle to check on Thompson,” police facts state.
“Thompson has taken her foot off the brake, causing her vehicle to move forward and collide with the front of the witness’ vehicle, causing damage.”
A subsequent blood alcohol analysis revealed a result of 0.237 – almost five times the legal limit.
Her solicitor Wayne Pasterfield told the court repairs will cost Thompson about $30,000 due to her insurance being voided by her drink driving.
“She doesn’t know why she drove,” Mr Pasterfield said.
“But she thinks she was trying to go to Engadine McDonald’s.”
Thompson pleaded guilty to the charge and Magistrate Les Mabbutt at Sutherland Local Court sentenced her to a two-year community corrections order with supervision and 120 hours’ community service.
“Around the time you were born, society was struggling with the number of people being killed on the road by drink drivers,” Mr Mabbutt told Thompson.
“Parliament made a decision that random breath testing would be introduced, the penalties would be increased, and jail terms made available for particularly high range offences – in the late 70s 1300 people were dying on the road per year, and now it’s just 300.
“People think about the risks and the penalties they will receive if they get behind the wheel after drinking.”
Mr Mabbutt said the “strange times” brought about by the global COVID-19 pandemic were no excuse.
“This can be described as nothing but a selfish offence,” Mr Mabbutt said.
“You’ve made a very foolish decision to get behind the wheel.”
Thompson will be banned from driving for eight months, backdated to her initial disqualification in April.
She will also be subject to an interlock licence for two years once she is back on the road.
Mr Mabbutt also banned her from consuming alcohol as a condition of her community corrections order.