Two drivers charged in Griffith after alleged offences with potentially 'catastrophic consequences'

Griffith Highway Patrol recently arrested and charged two drivers after separate incidents that police say could have caused “catastrophic consequences”.

Disqualified driver allegedly fails to stop and flees scene after accident

At 10:28 am on Wednesday, 5 March, a white Mazda BT-50 utility was travelling in a south-easterly direction along Hanwood Avenue in Hanwood.

The driver approached the intersection of Old Willbriggie Road, which is controlled by a Stop sign. The driver allegedly failed to stop and proceeded through the intersection, failing to give way to a truck travelling south.

The truck and the utility collided, with both vehicles obstructing the roadway after coming to a rest. The driver of the utility fled the scene after allegedly disclosing to the other involved driver that he did not have a driver’s licence. Police were notified of the crash and attended the scene moments later.

Officers began making inquiries and quickly established the identity of the 40-year-old disqualified driver, known by police as a repeat traffic offender. The driver was later arrested, when he was subjected to a roadside drug test that returned a positive detection of methamphetamine. The driver was charged and will be required to attend court.

In addition to this, the driver was issued two infringement notices for not stopping at a stop line and not giving particulars to the other driver. These offences carry a combined penalty of $820 and the loss of six demerit points.

Two-year-old in car with driver who allegedly returned 0.178 blood alcohol reading

About 6:15 pm on Friday, 7 March, police were conducting patrols when they saw a white Isuzu D-MAX utility travelling in a north-westerly direction along Wyangan Avenue in Griffith. The driver was stopped due to his driving manner and for roadside testing.

Police approached the vehicle and found an unrestrained two-year-old child in the front passenger seat. Another child was in the rear passenger seat. The driver was subjected to a roadside breath test, which allegedly returned a positive result to alcohol.

The driver was arrested, and a breath analysis was completed at Griffith Police Station. The test allegedly returned a reading of 0.178 grams of alcohol in 210 litres of breath, placing him in the high-range category.

Police conducted checks, which confirmed an apprehended domestic violence order was enforceable at the time of the alleged driving offence. The order prohibited the driver from being with his children within 12 hours after consuming alcohol.

The driver was charged with driving with a high-range blood alcohol level and contravening a prohibition or restriction in an apprehended domestic violence order.

He was also issued an infringement notice for driving with one passenger with a seatbelt/restraint not properly fastened, which carries a penalty of $410 and the loss of three demerit points.

The driver’s licence was immediately suspended and bail was refused. State child protection authorities were notified of the incident.