Mason Parker: Dapto teen charged with drink driving less than 12 months into having licence

A boozy night has ended in a conviction for an Illawarra P-plater who decided to get behind the wheel a mere 30 minutes after drinking – a choice which saw him hit an animal and roll his car near Nowra.

The "stupid decision" saw Mason Parker convicted, fined and with no licence.

A boozy night has ended in a conviction for an Illawarra P-plater who decided to get behind the wheel a mere 30 minutes after drinking – a choice which saw him hit an animal and roll his car near Nowra.

The incident saw Mason Parker, 18, in Nowra Local Court on Tuesday, charged with mid range drink driving.

The Dapto teen had previously pleaded guilty to the offence.

Police documents tendered to the court reveal in the early hours of June 10, after a night drinking with his mates, Parker and a friend got into his Mitsubishi Triton before travelling along the Princes Hwy, despite being “well over the limit”.

The drunk teen was driving near Jerrawangala - about 30 minutes south of Nowra - when he hit an animal after it ran onto the road and according to agreed facts he lost control of the car.

“[Parker] attempted to avoid the animal, however he lost control of the car and rolled into bushland, causing extensive damage to the car,” the court documents state.

The crash saw Parker with a minor laceration to his face and bruising. However his friend, who was seated in the front passenger seat fared worse, sustaining a deep laceration to his ear which required stitches.

Mason Parker hit an animal after he decided to drive while 0.132 over the limit.

Emergency services attended the scene before the intoxicated mates were driven to the Shoalhaven District Hospital for treatment, with police following the ambulance.

At the hospital, police questioned the boys and Parker admitted to the officers he had drunk alcohol 30 minutes before getting behind the wheel.

Blood tests conducted at the hospital revealed the 18-year-old had an alcohol reading of 0.132 at the time of the crash.

Parker’s licence was suspended and he was charged.

At court on Tuesday, a self-representing Parker said he was embarrassed by his actions.

“I shouldn’t have made that stupid decision,” he said.

“I realise getting behind the wheel while intoxicated is not something I should have done.”

Magistrate Lisa Viney said it was an “exceptionally high” reading for a P-plater.

“This is quite a serious example of drink driving and you haven’t even had your licence for 12 months,” she said.

“For such a new driver, you’re already committing one of the more serious traffic offences.”

When sentencing, Ms Viney accepted Parker was remorseful and realised driving was the wrong thing to do.

“This is a hard lesson you have learnt,” she said.

Parker was convicted, fined $600, had his licence disqualified for four months and ordered to install an interlock for 12 months once his licence returns.