Queensland woman arrested after recording ‘lethal’ blood alcohol level

A 50-year-old Queensland woman was arrested after she allegedly returned a 0.419 per cent blood alcohol reading following a two vehicle crash.

Queensland Police said the blood alcohol reading was a “potentially lethal dose”. The woman’s licence was immediately suspended and she was charged with driving under the influence of liquor.

The incident occurred late last year, when at approximately 4:20pm on Friday December 30, police attended a two vehicle crash at the intersection of Lamington Terrace and Magnolia Street in Nambour.

The driver was a 50-year old Sunshine Coast woman who was transferred to hospital for treatment with minor injuries. A blood specimen sample was taken which police allege returned the extremely high blood alcohol level of 0.419 per cent – more than eight times the legal limit.

Australian law states a person must maintain a blood alcohol limit of less than 0.05 per cent to drive.

A video posted by the Queensland Police shows police approaching the woman’s car, which has significant damage. The officer asks the woman if she has been drinking.

In the clip, which has been muted in some sections for legal reasons, you can see the woman handing the police officer what appears to be a semi-full bag from a cask wine box. The officer takes the bag as the woman attempts to take it back by reaching out of the vehicle.

The Officer in Charge of Highway Patrol Sunshine Coast, Senior Sergeant Shane Panoho, said the woman’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was over the lethal dose.

“Drinking alcohol reduces your ability to drive safely. Alcohol affects your judgement, vision, coordination and reflexes—increasing your risk of having a crash,” he said.

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“Once alcohol is in your system, even at around 0.05 per cent BAC, it affects the brain’s ability to make rational decisions and you are more likely to take risks.

“A lethal dose of alcohol is around 4 grams of alcohol per 100 ml of blood (ie BAC of 0.4 per cent). The alleged actions of this driver endangered not only her own life but the lives of every other person on the road that day. Don’t Drink and Drive.”

She is expected to appear before Nambour Magistrates Court on February 6.

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