Prison for drink-driver
PETER Edward Dowker had every chance not to get behind the wheel drunk the night he crashed into a tree at high speed, killing his wife.
Dowker, 48, and his wife Lana Hufnagl, 57, were put into a taxi at the Tallai Golf Club on July 9, 2017, but Dowker told the cab driver to turn back, the Southport District Court was told yesterday.
He got into his car and drove with a blood-alcohol reading of 0.213 per cent – more than four times the legal limit.
Minutes later Dowker veered across The Panorama, over a gutter and into two trees, killing Ms Hufnagl, a former teacher at Mudgeeraba State School.
Five seconds before the airbags released, the car was travelling at 117km/h, 67km/h above the speed limit, the court was told.
The car’s computer recorded speeds of up to 139km/ h before the crash.
Dowker yesterday pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death and driving while under the influence.
He was sentenced to seven years prison, with parole eligibility in November next year.
Dowker, a road engineer, was also banned from driving for two years.
Ms Hufnagl’s family listened in shock as the facts of the night were read in court.
Outside court, Ms Hufnagl’s sister Donna Harris had a simple message: “Don’t drink and drive. It’s so clear – just act responsibly and save a life.”
Ms Hufnagl left behind two adult daughters and twin grandsons. Her daughters were yesterday too distraught to attend court but did provide written victim impact statements.
Crown prosecutor Natalie Lima summarised the statements.
“(Ursula Hufnagl) described her mother not just as her next of kin but also her soulmate,” Ms Lima said.
“She said it was like living in a bad dream and in the 18 months that has passed the pain had not eased.”
Ms Lima said Ms Hufnagl’s other daughter, Emily Stocker, spoke about being devastated her children would not get to know her mother.
Dowker’s barrister Peter Nolan told the court Dowker could not explain why he was so drunk the day of the crash.
He said Dowker had no memory of the crash and spent four weeks recovering from his injuries. Dowker now walks with a cane because of his injuries, which include a spine fracture.