Woman loses licence after allegedly produced a staggering reading of 0.434 breath test

A drunk driver has been nabbed blowing a deadly BAC reading – which one SA cop said was the highest she’d ever heard of – after being found asleep behind the wheel.

A woman has been caught almost nine times over the legal limit.

A drunk driver has been caught almost nine times over the legal limit, blowing a shocking, high-range BAC reading which experts say could have caused her death.

About 11pm on Monday, police were called to a service station on South Tce at Strathalbyn after a witness reported a woman asleep behind the wheel of a white Ford Escape with the engine still running.

When the police carried out a breath test on the 41-year-old woman from Mannum, she allegedly produced a reading of 0.434 – a reading experts say could have killed her.

“A reading of .4 or .5 can actually be considered not compatible with life,” health expert Doctor Vicky Cox told 9 News Adelaide.

The woman was reported for drink driving, issued with a 12-month immediate loss of licence and her car was impounded for 28 days.

She will be summoned to appear in court at a later date.

Senior constable Kate Dawson told FIVEAA breakfast radio she was shocked by the reading.

“Actually the highest reading I’ve ever heard of and I’ve been in the police for almost 17 years now,” she said.

“At that level, .434, you should almost be in a coma.”

Originally published as Woman loses licence after allegedly produced a staggering reading of 0.434 breath test