Kerry Anne Wright pleads guilty at Coffs Harbour court to high-range drink driving after sideswiping garbage truck

A Coffs Coast woman who totalled her car when she ploughed into a garbage truck had a blood alcohol reading of more than five times the legal limit. Here’s what happened.

Coffs Harbour Local Court heard Kerry Anne Wright had no access to a vehicle after writing off her Hyundai Getz in a crash on Pine Creek Way.

A Bonville woman will serve a prison term in the community after losing control of her Hyundai Getz and sideswiping a Handybin garbage truck while high-range drink driving.

Kerry Anne Wright wrote a lengthy letter of apology in the wake of the April 20 crash, which totalled the small hatchback.

But Coffs Harbour Local Court heard it was her third drink driving offence.

The 59-year-old took the Pacific Highway, Lyons Rd exit at about 1.50pm and failed to manoeuvre through a roundabout, police state in court documents.

Wright’s car struck the garbage truck while it was heading northbound on Pine Creek Way.

The collision with a garbage truck saw the Hyundai written-off. Picture: File

The Hyundai “sustained heavy front end damage as it collided with the axle and fuel tank” of the truck.

Wright was taken to hospital and a blood sample revealed a reading of 0.261 – more than five times the legal alcohol limit for driving.

Defence lawyer Lachlan Jackson-Porter conceded his client should not have been behind the wheel.

He told the court Wright was a carer for her elderly parents and had served as a volunteer for a Sawtell rugby organisation.

Mr Jackson-Porter said Wright’s car was written off in the crash and she did not have enough money to buy a new car.

Magistrate Julia Virgo said on Wednesday the crash was a direct result of Wright’s “impairment”.

However, a sentencing assessment report deemed Wright to be of low risk of reoffending.

Wright pleaded guilty to high-range drink driving.

She was convicted and sentenced to a 12-month intensive correction order. Wright must also complete the Traffic Offenders Program.

Wright was disqualified from driving for two years, but granted an exemption from an interlock licence order because she did not have access to a vehicle.

Originally published as Kerry Anne Wright pleads guilty at Coffs Harbour court to high-range drink driving after sideswiping garbage truck