A man has been charged with drink driving after a collision on day seven of the state-wide Christmas and New Year's road-safety operation.
About 9pm yesterday (Wednesday 30 December 2020), a Ford Ranger allegedly collided heavily with two parked vehicles on Kahibah Road, Charlestown.
Several members of the public witnessed the collision and followed the Ranger where the front passengers side wheel fell off. The vehicle continued driving into nearby Camrose Street, coming to a stop on a median strip. The witnesses have detained the 38-year-old male driver and contacted police.
Upon police arrival the man was breath tested which returned a positive reading. He was arrested and taken to Belmont Police Station where he underwent a breath analysis resulting in a reading of 0.240.
The man was issued a court attendance notice to appear at Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 3 February 2021. He has also been issued a licence suspension notice.
The state-wide road safety operation started at 12.01am last Thursday (24 December 2020) and concludes at 11.59pm on Sunday (3 January 2021).
Double-demerit points are in force throughout the period for speeding, seatbelt, mobile phone and motorcycle helmet offences.
NSW Police officers will also be targeting other high-risk driver behaviour, including the Four Ds; drink, drug, dangerous and distracted driving.
So far, 5,964 speeding fines and 5,182 infringement notices have been issued for other driving offences.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner Karen Webb, is appealing to all road users to end 2020, and commence 2021 thinking of their family and friends.
"The worst job that any police officer can do is to tell someone that a loved one has lost their life in a car crash. What makes this harder is that this is totally preventable. Simply, abiding by the road rules and being alert will prevent a tragedy," Assistant Commissioner Webb said.
"One of the major factors in many fatal collisions is speed and it's concerning to see several drivers detected at dangerously high speeds in the past 24 hours. I cannot believe the stupidity of some people who think they can travel at these speeds and get away with it."
Other incidents of note on day seven of the operation include:
- Just after 5:30am (Wednesday 30 December 2020), officers from the Traffic Operations Group were travelling south along the M7, Rooty Hill in an unmarked police vehicle. This portion of roadway has a designated speed limit of 100km/h. A Ford Falcon sedan has then overtaken the unmarked police vehicle at allegedly well in excess of the speed limit. Officers followed the Falcon where its speed was checked at 157km/h. The Falcon was stopped, and the driver spoken too. It was established the 19-year-old male driver was the holder of a P2 licence. The man was issued a $2,484 infringement for exceed speed over 45kph and suspended from driving for six months.
- About 11:15am police stopped a Ford Territory travelling south on Appin Road, Appin, for the purpose of a random breath test. The driver, a 48-year-old man, produced an expired drivers' licence and further checks revealed his licence was disqualified until June 2021. It was also revealed the man had been charged by police on two separate occasions in the past fortnight for drive whilst disqualified. He was arrested and taken to Campbelltown Police Station, where he was charged with drive whilst disqualified. The man was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court today (Thursday 31 December 2020). He returned a negative result to alcohol when breath tested.
- At 4:15pm a member of the public contacted Triple Zero regarding a Holden Epica driving along Glossop Street, North St Marys, where the tyres on the driver's side had completely disintegrated and the vehicle was driving on its bare wheel rims. Police were directed to the Great Western Highway, North St Marys, where the vehicle was located unattended. Police made a number of inquiries and located the 26-year-old male driver nearby a short time later. It was established the driver was the holder of a P2 licence. A search of the vehicle located an illicit substance. The man allegedly failed a sobriety test and was arrested and taken to Nepean Hospital where a blood and urine sample was taken. The man was issued a court attendance notice for drive manner dangerous, fail to display P plates on vehicle and posses prohibited drug. He is due to appear at Penrith Local Court on Monday 25 January 2021. Police are awaiting for the results of the blood and urine before proceeding with any further action.
- About 4:50pm officers from Liverpool Highway Patrol were conducting speed enforcement duties along Elizabeth Drive, Cecil Park. Two vehicles, a Honda Civic driven by a 21-year-old male and a Toyota Corolla driven by a 20-year-old man, were detected travelling at over 130km/h in the signposted zone of 70km/h. Both drivers were stopped and identified as holding P2 licences. They were issued infringements for exceed speed over 45km/h and their licences suspended for six months.
- Shortly after 7:30pm, a Toyota van was seen by police from Tweed/Byron Highway Patrol at the intersection of Pacific Highway and Myocum Road, Ewingsdale, where it allegedly failed to indicate when turning. Officers stopped the vehicle and spoke to the 58-year-old male driver. The driver was submitted to a drug test which returned a positive result for cocaine. A search of the vehicle located a large quantity of drugs and $21,700 in cash. The man was arrested and taken to Byron Bay Police Station. He was charged with a total of 10 drug related offences and bail refused to appear at Lismore Local Court today. He was also served a licence suspension notice banning him from driving for 24 hours.
Key statistics (progressive total):
Speed infringements: 5,964
Breath tests: 122,900
PCA charges: 293
Major crashes: 455
Fatalities: 4
