‘It beggars belief’ — police slam woman who allegedly drank gin for two hours while driving before rolling car

A 48-year-old woman allegedly became heavily intoxicated on a 21/2 hour trip to Kendenup before losing control of her vehicle and rolling her car. Police say the woman left South Bunbury at 10am on Friday, April 30, and started drinking gin during the trip to the Great Southern. She allegedly lost control of the Toyota HiLux on Martagallup Road and crashed about 12.25pm, with the vehicle coming to a rest on its roof. The sole occupant of the HiLux, she was helped from the wreckage by Shire of Cranbrook workers, emerging without serious injury. Mt Barker officer-in-charge Sergeant David Johnson said the South Bunbury woman recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.135 after the crash. As a result she was charged with excess 0.08 and her licence was immediately disqualified. Sgt Johnson described the woman’s behaviour as extremely reckless. “She was drinking as she was driving,” Sgt Johnson said. “She had her first drink at 10am and then continued drinking until she was that intoxicated she lost control of her vehicle and rolled. “It beggars belief that a person would drink while driving over a 21/2 hour period. “She has put herself and other road users at serious risk and was lucky not to get seriously hurt.” The woman is due to face Albany Magistrate’s Court next month. Sgt Johnson said his station had seen an alarming increase in drink-driving charges. The annual average for Mt Barker over the past five years has been 20 charges but so far this financial year, they have recorded 32. “The message just doesn’t seem to be getting through,” Sgt Johnson said. “We will continue to target drink-driving in an aim to reduce this behaviour.”