Driver faces court after crash

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IT WAS a miracle no one was injured or killed when Joshua Daniel Crummy's Ford Falcon smashed through a fence and ended up in a paddock on Ellis Rd, Braunstone, Magistrate David Heilpern said in Grafton Local Court yesterday.

Driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.249, Crummy, 33, of Coutts Crossing, was five times over the legal driving limit when he crashed at 6.30pm on October 14.

Ambulance officers had already taken Crummy to hospital by the time police arrived at the scene and when they spoke to him he admitted his offence and apologised.

Police said Crummy had been at a close friend's funeral and then a wake before he took to the road with an unknown quantity of rum and beer under his belt.

Defence solicitor John Kelly told the court Crummy had admitted to "self-medicating" with alcohol to treat some depression issues.

Mr Kelly said Crummy's employer had stuck by him and had retained him, albeit with reduced responsibilities, knowing that he was unlikely to retain his licence.

"This must be some indication of his employer's view of him your honour," Mr Kelly said.

Magistrate Heilpern noted Crummy's previous drink driving offence (mid-range PCA) in 1995 and disqualified him from driving for three years, placed him on a three-year good behaviour bond and fined him $1000.

In a separate matter, Crummy was fined $400 for the malicious damage of his former partner's house window.

Crummy had been involved in an argument with the woman the night before the offence on November 17, with the disagreement continuing in the morning.

On seeing that the window of a car belonging to a client of his employer was broken, Crummy threw a beer bottle at the Coutts Crossing home and smashed a window.