Man crashes into Elanora house on southern Gold Coast, charged with drink driving

A MAN has been charged with drink driving overnight after crashing into a house at Elanora.

Some of the damage to the Blanshards property at Elanora. Photo Britt Ramsey

A MAN has been charged after ploughing through the front yard of an Elanora property, allegedly four times over the legal alcohol limit, stopping just inches from the house.

Douglas and Doreen Blanshard were inside when they heard a large bang.

“I thought a bomb had gone off outside,” Mr Blanshard, 80 said.

“I ran outside and straight away when I heard it, knew he was over the limit.

“He was a big bloke too, you could definitely tell he was drunk."

Some of the damage to the Blanshard’s property at Elanora. Photo Britt Ramsey

It’s understood the driver was headed east on K P McGrath Dr, and failed to negotiate the roundabout, crashing through the front yard, over a large rock and into the front patio.

When arrested, he reportedly returned a reading of .192.

As a result of the impact, four hardwood support beams were cleaned out, with the car stopping just inches from the front windows.

“It could have been worse,” Mr Blanshard said.

“We’re lucky the poles were there, they copped the brunt of the impact.

“Snapped one clean in half, splintered them.

Ms Blanshard said she was wary of her husband going outside.

“You just never know what state people are going to be in,” she said.

“With drugs and drinking — but he was very sorry.”

A man has been charged with drink driving.

Police and ambulance officers were on scene within 10 minutes. Neighbours rushed to help, and plenty of onlookers stopped having heard the noise.

The couple in their eighties were in rooms on the other side of the house when the accident happened.

“We’re just really lucky we don’t use the front sitting room too much,” Doreen said.

“I’ve always been nervous on the corner of a roundabout, there’s a bedroom at the front and I don’t like people staying in there.”

The 54-year-old man from Deception Bay, was charged with drink driving overnight and is due to face Southport Magistrates Court on August 13.

Originally published as Man crashes into Elanora house on southern Gold Coast, charged with drink driving