A Mosgiel woman drunkenly drove on the wrong side of the motorway, causing a collision with an elderly couple.
Lisa Susan Matthews, 43, was sentenced in the Dunedin District Court yesterday after earlier pleading guilty to drink-driving causing injury and dangerous driving.
The court heard that on May 7, the defendant had been drinking heavily at a Mosgiel address. About 9pm she headed toward Dunedin.
She got on to the southbound lane and began driving north.
As an elderly couple approached the top of Saddle Hill, they saw the defendant’s car hurtling towards them. The driver braked heavily and swerved to avoid Matthews, but the cars collided.
Both vehicles were written off and the victims were taken to Dunedin Hospital by ambulance.
Matthews had a breath-alcohol level of 890mcg — more than three times the legal limit.
The victim, who was driving the car, suffered whiplash and injuries from the seatbelt and airbags. Her husband suffered minor injuries.
In a statement, the 80-year-old female victim told the court the incident "terrified" her.
"In the split second before you hit my car I seriously thought I was about to die," she said.
"I find it hard to feel sympathy for [Matthews] and hope that [she has] learned some lessons," the victim said.
Judge Deidre Orchard noted Matthews was employed as a support worker, had engaged in counselling and had no previous convictions.
She sentenced Matthews to four months’ community detention and ordered her to pay $1000 emotional harm reparation to the victim.
Matthews was disqualified for 14 months and would have to apply for a zero-alcohol licence following that period.
