BREATH TEST FAILURE
CRASH DRIVER ALLEGEDLY FOUR TIMES THE LIMIT
A DRIVER involved in a horror smash that has left a woman fighting for her life allegedly tested more than four times over the legal blood alcohol limit.
The family of Shalene Fitzsimmons said it was a “sick joke” that she was working for Dial A Driver that night while the man under police investigation was allegedly drunk behind the wheel.
Ms Fitzsimmons was helping take people home from the North Queensland Elite Rodeo at Alice River on Saturday night when her car was slammed into from behind at the intersection of Herveys Range Rd and the Ring Rd.
Ms Fitzsimmons worked for the Dial A Driver .05 service, which takes people who are alcohol-affected home safely.
Sources have told the Townsville Bulletin the motorist behind the wheel of the car that ploughed into Ms Fitzsimmons’s vehicle allegedly blew four times the legal limit when he was tested at the scene.
The man was taken to hospital where blood was taken for further tests.
Ms Fitzsimmons was in an induced coma in a critical but stable condition yesterday with immediate family by her side. A family member, who asked not to be named, said the circumstances surrounding the crash had left them “shattered and angry” and it was an “ironic twist”.
“It’s kind of a sick joke that the world has thrown at us, she’s gone out there to do the right thing and drive for people drinking then the exact opposite has happened and she’s been hit by a drink-driver of all people,” the woman said.
“We’re very, very angry and … our family is in such a hard spot emotionally and physically – it’s not good.
“We urge people to think before they even consider getting behind the wheel while drinking or having drunk alcohol.”
The family member said Ms Fitzsimmons had suffered swelling on the brain, but hospital staff were hopeful. Townsville Police Inspector Sean Dugger said it was a sad set of circumstances for Ms Fitzsimmons.
“She was providing an option to drivers who are drinking and that’s what we endorse, whatever means people need to take whether that’s a taxi, rideshare or family member – drink-driving is not an option and drink-driving shouldn’t even be considered,” he said.
It is understood that all people involved in the crash were on their way home from the North Queensland Elite Rodeo.
Rodeo owner and promoter Quentin Kersh said organisers had “gone above and beyond” to provide safety measures, including a bus service.
“Apart from breathalysing everyone as they leave the gate, and we can’t do that, we’ve done everything possible,” he said.
A fundraising page has been set up for Ms Fitzsimmons.