Woman admits Redcliffs drink-drive crash
A 45-year-old Sumner woman who veered off the road and ran into pedestrians at Redcliffs while drink-driving has pleaded guilty and been remanded for sentence.
Sarah Jane Arrow was remanded on bail for sentencing on July 26 after she pleaded guilty to two charges before Judge Jane Farish in the Christchurch District Court today.
She admitted that she caused injury to a man when she drove on Main Road, Redcliffs, on March 25 when she was driving with 1009mcg of alcohol to a litre of breath.
The level that triggers an offence is 250mcg, and the level for prosecution at court is 400mcg.
She also admitted a new charge of driving in breach of a zero-alcohol licence she had been granted on January 20.
Police said that members of the public had called police about her driving, because she was reported to be swerving, when she was on Main Road, Redcliffs, about 2.15pm on on March 25.
She failed to take a corner and struck a roadside barrier, which threw two pedestrians off a 2m bank and onto the rocks below.
Her breath test at the scene indicated a level of 1009mcg of alcohol to a litre of breath.
One pedestrian received minor bruises and scratches while the other suffered extensive breaks to both legs, an extensive skull fracture, broken ribs, and internal injuries.
The injuries requires on-going treatment and surgery, the police said.
Arrow told police she had drunk two glasses of wine before driving and she had the sun in her eyes at the time of the crash.
Defence counsel Allister Davis said Arrow accepted the details in the summary of facts and the list of her previous convictions. He applied for her to be released on bail before sentencing and said a restorative justice meeting with the victims was “a live issue”.
Judge Farish granted bail but warned that it was not an indication of the final outcome. “I’ll leave the gate open for a non-custodial sentence to be considered,” she said.
The judge called for a pre-sentence report to consider Arrow’s suitability for home detention, asked for a restorative justice meeting to be arranged if possible, and imposed bail conditions that Arrow not drive nor consume alcohol while on bail.
Category: Focus
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