Troy Zenke pleads guilty to high range drink driving before crash at Alexandra Headland

A seasoned electrician has returned a whopping blood alcohol reading after he was involved in a multi-vehicle crash 20m from his Sunshine Coast unit.

Troy James Zenke faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Picture: Sam Turner

A veteran sparkie has been taken off the road for a year after he was involved in a crash while more than four times the legal blood alcohol limit only metres from his home.

Troy Zenke returned an astronomical reading of 0.229 per cent at 11am on June 15, almost two hours following his boozy crash in Alexandra Headland.

Maroochydore Magistrates Court was told this week how police were called to the three-vehicle prang on Pacific Tce at 9.49am.

Police prosecutor James Allen said witnesses at the scene said Zenke, the driver of a Toyota LandCruiser involved in the crash, left the scene and walked into a set of nearby units.

Mr Allen said police found the driver however it was clear the 40-year-old was intoxicated.

He was taken to the Maroochydore Police Station and breath tested at 11am when he returned the reading.

Zenke was charged with driving under the influence of liquor and pleaded guilty to this single charge in court.

Zenke pleaded guilty to the single charge. Picture: Sam Turner

Defence solicitor Sam Bolton said the Toowoomba-born senior electrician’s drink driving crash was described as a “rare lapse in judgement” in references tendered to the court, and claimed the incident was out of character.

Mr Bolton said Zenke was drinking the night before into the early hours on the day of the crash and was involved in the collision on his way home in his mate’s car later that day.

The court was told the crash occurred only 20m from Zenke’s unit, with the solicitor stating his client walked home to his residence to wait for police.

Mr Bolton said since the crash Zenke had taken part in a mental health plan, completed psychology sessions along with a traffic offenders' program.

Magistrate Raelene Ellis said the 40-year-old’s reading “significantly high” and believed there was a risk posed to the community by his behaviour that day.

She disqualified Zenke’s licence for 12 months and fined him $2000. A traffic conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Troy Zenke pleads guilty to high range drink driving before crash at Alexandra Headland