John Whitlock pleads guilty to drink driving after Bruce Hwy crash at Tanawha
A Fraser Coast caravan park manager has been found getting on the drink at the scene of a serious Sunshine Coast crash which wrote off his vehicle to the tune of $60,000.
Police & Courts
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A Fraser Coast caravan park manager has been stung for high-range drink driving after being involved in a crash on the Sunshine Coast which led to $60,000 in damages to his vehicle.
John Owen Whitlock was found drinking alcohol at the scene of a two vehicle crash southbound on the Bruce Hwy at Tanawha on November 2.
The court heard on Thursday Sippy Downs Police rushed to the scene about 8.05pm and found the two vehicles involved with no serious injuries reported.
Police prosecutor Brendan Newman said the 53-year-old Kawungan man was seen drinking from a can and was told to stop.
Maroochydore Magistrates Court was told Whitlock was travelling from Hervey Bay to Brisbane and admitted to getting on the beers the night before and at lunch that day, which included several XXXX Golds and bourbon and cokes.
Police prosecutor Brendan Newman said Whitlock was breath tested where he returned a blood-alcohol content reading of 0.159 per cent.
Whitlock pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of liquor on Thursday, where he represented himself.
He told magistrate Rod Madsen he was sorry and did not drink regularly.
The caravan park manager said his car was written off from the crash which cost him $60,000.
He told the court he hoped to travel with his wife however due to the drunken crash that probably would not happen.
Mr Madsen said the Kawunga man had an “unenviable” traffic history but accepted he was frank about doing the wrong thing.
“Clearly you were in no shape to drive,” he told the 53-year-old.
Whitlock was disqualified from driving for 14 months and fined $1050.
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Originally published as John Whitlock pleads guilty to drink driving after Bruce Hwy crash at Tanawha
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