Melissa Roffey: Christmas Day drink driver blew four times over
A Crib Point woman had had too many at a friend’s place over a Christmas meal before getting in her car, rolling it and ending up in hospital.
South East
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A drunk driver who crashed and rolled her car after over-imbibing while celebrating Christmas Day has been fined and banned from the road.
Melissa Roffey had to be taken to hospital by air ambulance after hitting a tree and flipping her vehicle onto its side.
She was trapped and had to be rescued by passers-by, paramedics and police, spending several days in the Royal Melbourne receiving treatment for facial and rib injuries.
The Crib Point 53-year-old pleaded guilty to drink-driving at Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
The court heard Roffey had been at a Balnarring mate’s house for Christmas lunch on December 25, 2019.
Some attendees began arguing and she felt she had to leave, so jumped behind the wheel of her car and headed home.
She lost control on Sandy Point Rd in Somers, veered onto the shoulder, collided with a tree and her vehicle rolled, coming to rest on its side.
In hospital her blood was taken and she recorded an alcohol reading of .196.
Roffey said she had no recollection of events before the accident as she must have blacked out in the crash.
Her defence lawyer James Dowsley said his client left the festive gathering because the arguing was unpleasant and she was getting anxious.
He said she made the mistake of getting in her car, which “ended very badly for her”.
He said Roffey had already incurred the loss of the vehicle, which was written off, suffered injuries and was terribly embarrassed and ashamed by her actions.
Magistrate Charles Tan said this was her first time in court, and she had already paid a penalty financially and physically for her decision to drive.
He said it was lucky she wasn’t more seriously hurt and no one else was injured as there could have been some “tragic consequences” that day.
Roffey was fined $1600 and disqualified from driving for 24 months.
