A woman who crashed her car while driving more than eight times over the limit is amongst a number of concerning incidents on day four of the state-wide Christmas and New Year's road-safety operation.
About 2.10pm (Sunday 27 December 2020), officers from The Hume Police Area Command were called following reports of a white Volkswagen Polo hatch driving erratically on the Barton Highway, Jeir, near Murrumbateman.
Police arrived to find the vehicle in a ditch on the side of the road before the uninjured 36-year-old female driver was subjected to a roadside breath test, which returned a positive result.
The woman – and sole occupant of the car – was taken to Yass Police Station, where she allegedly returned a breath analysis reading of 0.416. She was charged with drive with high range PCA and was issued with a Court Attendance Notice (CAN) to appear at Yass Local Court on Friday 15 January 2020.
The state-wide road safety operation started at midnight 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, nearly 3,217 speeding fines and more than 2,223 infringement notices have been issued for other driving offences.
Items of interest from day four (Sunday 27 December 2020) includes;
Shortly before 1.50pm, officers attached to Central North Highway Patrol were conducting speed-enforcement duties on Castlereagh Highway, Walgett, when they detected a Nissan X-Trail allegedly travelling at 148km/h. The 25-year-old female P-plater was stopped and issued with a Traffic Infringement Notice for exceed speed limit - over 45km/h. Her licence was also suspended for six months.
About 11.30pm, officers from Surry Hills Police Area Command were conducting random drug and alcohol testing on Flinders Street, Surry Hills, when they observed a Volkswagen Golf allegedly try to avoid the road-side testing site. Police stopped the vehicle in nearby Short Street, where the 31-year-old male driver returned a negative breath test, but his drug test returned a positive detection to cannabis. On arrest, the man became argumentative and a struggle ensued, before the man allegedly assaulted police, broke free and fled. About 2.15am, the man attended Glebe Police Station, where he was charged with refuse or fail to provide oral fluid sample, resist or hinder police officer in the execution of duty, assault police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm, assault person with intent to resist/prevent apprehension, and escape police custody. The man was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court today (Monday 28 December 2020).
About 7.30pm, officers attached to Leichhardt Police Area Command were called following reports a Toyota Hilux crashing into two cars in separate incidents at Balmain and Rozelle. Police have been told the male driver, aged 31, struck a Volkswagen Golf, which was stopped at a pedestrian crossing on Darling Street, Balmain, before driving off and colliding with a Skoda at the intersection of Evans and Hanover Streets, Rozelle, about 7.35pm. After fleeing the scene, the man drove into rocks on Central Avenue before running away on foot. Officers located the driver nearby and he was subjected to a roadside breath test returning a positive result. He was taken to Newtown Police Station when he allegedly returned a breath analysis reading of 0.194. He was charged with six offences including; not give particulars to other driver, negligent driving (no death or grievous bodily harm), two counts of not give particulars to other driver, negligent driving (no death or grievous bodily harm), and drive with high range PCA. He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court today (Monday 28 December 2020).
About 2.30pm, officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District were called following reports a Porsche Cayenne Turbo had crashed into a fence on Pacific Highway, Windale. The male driver, aged 29, was subjected to a roadside breath test returning a positive result. He was treated at the scene for minor injuries before being taken to John Hunter Hospital where he underwent mandatory testing. Inquiries are continuing.
Key statistics (progressive total):
Speed infringements:
Breath tests: 68,307
PCA charges: 177
Major crashes: 228
Fatalities: 2
