A woman will face court next month on high-range drink driving charges after being involved in a crash with her grandchildren in the car at Bossley Park earlier this week.
About 3.30pm on Tuesday 25 June 2019, police were waiting to turn left onto Mimosa Road from Polding Street, Bossley Park, when they saw a Corolla collide with a vehicle being driven by a 17-year-old male.
It will be alleged the Corolla's driver – a 56-year-old woman – left the scene, with police later locating the Corolla in a school zone further along Mimosa Road. The woman drove away from police, but later stopped at a children's crossing and got out of the car.
At the time, police observed an eight-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl in the Corolla. The woman was subjected to a roadside breath test, which returned a positive result.
A subsequent breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.167.
She was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice for driving with a high range PCA to attend Fairfield Local Court on Tuesday 16 July 2019.
Child at risk notifications have been made and the children were released into the care of their mother.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy, was flabbergasted at the number of recent reports about people being detected drink driving with young children in the car.
"Children, regardless of whether they are pedestrians or passengers in a car, are our most vulnerable road users," Assistant Commissioner Corboy said.
"Anecdotally we have noticed many of these incidents taking place around school pick-up time.
"This is simply unacceptable. We know the school run can be stressful, but it is no excuse to get in the car under the influence of alcohol.
"What would you say to other relatives if the youngest members of your family were killed or injured in a crash of your making?"
Assistant Commissioner Corboy called on friends and neighbours to act if they noticed a parent seemed like they shouldn't be driving.
"If you believe they are impaired, speak up and ensure they make arrangements with a friend or another parent to collect the kids from school."
Other recent incidents have included:
HECKENBERG: A woman has been charged with mid-range drink driving after crashing into a fence with her child in the car in Heckenberg last month.
About 9:30pm (Tuesday 18 June 2019), police were called to Eucumbene Crescent, Heckenberg, near Liverpool, and stopped a white Holden Rodeo utility that was moving slowly after crashing into the fence.
Police observed a two-year-old girl standing, unrestrained, on the front passenger seat of the vehicle.
Police subjected the 43-year-old woman to a breath test, which returned a positive reading. She was arrested and taken to Green Valley Police Station, where a subsequent breath analysis allegedly returned a reading of 0.121.
The woman was charged with driving with mid-range PCA, unrestrained child and drive with passenger under four years in front of vehicle.
She was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice and will appear at Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday 10 July 2019.
Police notified the Department of Family and Community Services regarding the matter and the child was placed in the care of her grandmother.
MERRYWETHER: A woman has been charged with high-range drink driving after being stopped with her two young children in the car in the Newcastle suburb of Merewether.
About 3.10pm (Monday 17 June 2019), police stopped a white Toyota RAV4 on Frederick Street and subjected the 42-year-old female driver to a breath test, which returned a positive reading.
It is alleged the woman had just picked up her two young children from a nearby primary school.
She was arrested and taken to Newcastle Police Station, where a subsequent breath analysis returned a reading of 0.239.
The woman was charged with driving with high range PCA and her NSW driver's licence was suspended.
She was granted conditional bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on 18 July 2019.
Police lodged a child at risk report with the Department of Family and Community Services regarding the matter.
