Drink-driving student ‘put friends and others at risk’

Drink-driving student ‘put friends and others at risk’

Olivia Jewel Malcolm Evans, of La Grande Pièce, St Peter, had slugged from a quarter bottle of vodka while she was behind the wheel with four friends at about 11 pm on Saturday 2
June.

In the crash, which happened at the junction of David Place and Stopford Road, Evans’ Ford Fiesta hit and damaged a traffic light opposite the Royal Hotel and her car was written off.

At a previous hearing, the Magistrate’s Court heard that an independent witness said there were ‘girls hanging out of the car’ and that the Fiesta was travelling quickly when it struck the Peugeot.

The 19-year-old, who is studying psychology at the University of Newcastle and will start her second year in October, admitted charges of drink driving and dangerous driving.

At an earlier hearing, the court was told the taxi driver was briefly knocked unconscious and a front passenger in the Fiesta suffered a head injury.

However, Centenier Danny Scaife said that there were no doctor’s reports available, although the taxi driver provided a statement saying he had sustained a small graze and bruise to his head.

When questioned, the defendant told the police that she had been drinking but felt fine to drive.

Centenier Scaife said: ‘She had drunk half of a quarter-litre bottle of vodka. She drank while driving and was not thinking. She admitted she ran a red light and said that she did so because she was not concentrating.’

When breathalysed, Evans gave a reading of 63 mcg of alcohol in 100 ml of breath. The legal limit is 35 mcg.

Advocate Adam Harrison, defending, said his client accepted full responsibility. He told the court that on the night the group of friends were originally walking to town but when they went past her vehicle, she made the impulsive decision to
drive.

‘She is genuinely remorseful and angry with herself for putting her friends and the taxi driver at risk of harm,’ he said.

He added that Evans was working in a café during the summer break and had been hoping to save money to pay for her living expenses.

In sentencing, Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris said that Evans’ actions had put her friends and others at risk.

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