Ex-newspaper worker Keith Boyanton pleads guilty to drink driving crash at Bli Bli
A Sunshine Coast retiree said he had four jugs of beer at his local watering hole before he got behind the wheel and caused a head on collision because he was driving on the wrong side of the road.
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A former Bli Bli newspaper worker has said he was at the pub for a “punt and a chat” before he decided to get behind the wheel drunk and cause a head on crash.
Keith William Boyanton downed four jugs of beer on June 5 before he got behind the wheel and collided with a car on the wrong side of the road.
The 67-year-old’s boozy crash was heard in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention and mid range drink driving.
Police prosecutor Tara Miles said Boyanton had been drinking at the Waterfront Tavern all day when he decided to drive his red Mazda home.
Senior Constable Miles said the 67-year-old exited the car park at the tavern and drove towards Bli Bli along David Low Way.
The police prosecutor said however when he drove west he was in the wrong lane for about 200m.
Vehicles driving in the opposite direction were forced to stop however Boyanton ploughed head on into the traffic.
When police arrived at the scene about 6.30pm Boyanton was still strapped into the front seat of his car at the three-vehicle crash and smelled strongly of alcohol.
He told police he drank four jugs of beer earlier in the day with a breath test revealing his blood alcohol content was 0.146 per cent.
Duty lawyer Katie Paterson said Boyanton goes to the local pub for a “punt and to have a chat”, but on this occasion doesn’t recall the incident while driving home.
Ms Paterson said the 67-year-old worked for almost three decades in the newspaper industry and was remorseful for his actions.
Magistrate Rod Madsen acknowledged it was out of character for the Bli Bli man but was “very lucky” there were no significant injuries due to his driving.
Boyanton was fined a total of $1000 and disqualified from driving for five months, with convictions recorded.
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Originally published as Ex-newspaper worker Keith Boyanton pleads guilty to drink driving crash at Bli Bli
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