Eldon Lawrence Langham ploughed into parked car after running red light

A plasterer was caught on camera stumbling to his ute “hopelessly” drunk after a bender in a popular Gold Coast bar before causing traffic chaos. Here’s what happened. >>

A plasterer was caught on camera stumbling to his ute “hopelessly” drunk after a bender in a popular Gold Coast bar.

He then caused traffic chaos while more than four times the legal blood-alcohol limit.

On August 20 last year, Eldon Lawrence Langham jumped behind the wheel, ran a red light on Surf Pde, Broadbeach at speed and hit the median strip before crashing into a parked car.

A teenage girl was about to get into that stationary car and watched in horror as the car was hit. Her mother was already in the driver’s seat.

Eldon Lawrence Langham (left) leaves Southport Magistrates Court.

That still did not stop Langham, 41, who reversed, did a U-turn against a red arrow and tried to get through stationary traffic on Hooker Blvd.

When that did not work, Langham got out of the car and started to walk on the road.

Another motorist, who had followed him, attempted to talk to him but Langham started throwing punches.

A second passerby helped out and they were able to subdue Langham until police arrived.

When police Langham tested at Robina Hospital he recorded an alcohol reading of 0.22 – more than four times the 0.05 limit.

Langham pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court on Monday to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

Eldon Lawrence Langham (left) had an alcohol reading of 0.22 when he ran into a red light and crashed into a parked car.

Prosecutor Donn Reid said Langham was “extremely fortunate” no one was seriously injured.

Mr Reid said the parked car was written off, the driver suffered soft tissue injuries and the teenage girl thought they were going to be killed by the driver.

“The driving while in an intoxicated state was extremely dangerous,” he said.

Magistrate Lousia Pink sentenced him to 12 months’ prison to be wholly suspended for three years.

“These sorts of offences are too prevalent and the harm caused to the community is too prevalent,” she said.

“You are to blame for your conduct although there are personal circumstances that mitigate that to a degree.”

Defence barrister Russell Pearce said Langham was “hopelessly intoxicated” and had been “on a bender”, drinking spirits, before he left The Lucky Squire.

He said Langham had taken rehabilitative steps and had been seeing a psychologist and attending Alcohol Anonymous meetings.

He said Langham had not had alcohol since the incident.

Mr Pearce said Langham had been diagnosed with a major depressive disorder after his father had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and his sisters had died some years ago.

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