A woman has been charged after allegedly dangerous and high-range drink driving with an unrestrained child in the car in the Illawarra overnight.
Police received multiple calls about 5.40pm yesterday (Friday 11 March 2022) in relation to a blue Holden Trax swerving across the road and mounting gutters while driving north on Shellharbour Road, Warilla.
Police commenced inquiries to locate the vehicle. About 7.10pm, officers attached to Lake Illawarra Highway Patrol found the Holden on Northcliffe Drive, Warrawong.
When the driver allegedly failed to stop as directed, police commenced a pursuit. The low-speed pursuit continued for about 6km before the driver stopped near the intersection of Windang Road and Boronia Avenue, Windang.
A five-year-old girl was found unrestrained in the front-passenger seat, physically unharmed but extremely distressed.
A 46-year-old woman was arrested and taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station where she returned an alleged breath analysis reading of 0.263.
Her driver's licence was immediately suspended and her vehicle was confiscated for three months, while a child-at-risk notification has been completed.
The woman has been charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, high-range PAC, drive with unrestrained child passenger, and not stop when directed.
She was refused bail and is due to appear in the Wollongong Bail Court today (Saturday 12 March 2022).
The girl is being cared for by family members.
