Geelong man Khushpreet Gill, 37, blew more than five times legal limit after Viva Energy crash

A former AFL club chef and driver of a Porsche who was drunk when he crashed into scaffolding inside the Viva Energy refinery is being sued for $142,000 in damages.

An incident involving a sedan at the Viva Geelong refinery in Corio earlier this year. Photo: James Ford.

A driver of a Porsche who was “absolutely intoxicated” when he crashed into scaffolding inside the Viva Energy refinery in Geelong is being sued for $142,000 in damages.

Khushpreet Gill, 37, faced the Geelong Magistrates Court on Friday, with the court hearing of the diabolic consequences of his decision to drive while drunk after celebrating a significant contract win for his failing logistics company.

The court heard Gill was lucky he “or someone else” was not killed when he slammed into a metal structure inside the Lowe St entrance about 10.45pm on July 10, trapping him inside his car.

A steel gate was thrown 10m due to the force of the impact.

The court heard Gill got himself out of the vehicle with assistance of refinery staff, before he was found “slumped over a bench” smelling of liquor.

Scaffolding can be seen on the car at the Viva Geelong refinery in Corio. Photo: James Ford.

He returned a blood-alcohol reading of 0.278 – or more than five times the legal limit.

The former Collingwood Football Club chef was labelled “a success story as a migrant” by his defence lawyer, Royce Dekker, who told Magistrate Ann McGarvie he was now facing a $142,000 lawsuit from Viva.

“Insurance will not cover him … severe consequences for him,” Mr Dekker said.

Mr Dekker said his client “foolishly decided to drive” after drinking alcohol at his workplace after securing a major contract for his business.

“It was celebratory and unfortunately it has consequences,” he said.

The court was told the financial penalties Gill now faced “as a result of his actions” should not be taken into account when sentenced.

“I’m surprised we are not dealing with the death of the accused or someone else,” the police prosecutor said.

Magistrate Ann McGarvie said Gill “must have been absolutely intoxicated” and his decision to drive has “caused him to suffer this huge financial impost”.

He was convicted and fined $1060 and had his licence cancelled for 24 months.

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Originally published as Geelong man Khushpreet Gill, 37, blew more than five times legal limit after Viva Energy crash