Drinkdriver who caused crash also left baby at home alone

A DRIVER who caused a car crash after she ran a red light on the way to getting more alcohol also left her 1yearold at home without supervision, a court has heard.

Anita Marie Wheeler (24) was sentenced on Monday for dangerous driving causing injury, leaving a child without reasonable supervision, and driving with excess blood alcohol.

She appeared in the Dunedin District Court, before Judge Michael Crosbie.

Wheeler was drinking with a friend on August 23 and went to get more alcohol from a Leith St liquor store about 8.30pm.

A police summary of facts said she ‘‘drove erratically, weaving within her lane, as she travelled west along Albany St and north into Great King St’’.

She continued north, driving through a red light and colliding with a turning vehicle.

The driver of the other car received knee injuries in the crash, minor concussion and a sore neck, and was taken to Dunedin Hospital.

Wheeler was found to be nearly four times the legal limit, with a blood alcohol reading of 190mg. The legal limit is 50mg.

Wheeler told police she had left her son at home alone, and police went to check on him and found him crying in his cot.

Her defence lawyer Noel Rayner said she was a ‘‘young woman with no previous convictions’’, who was extremely remorseful and sorry for her actions.

She had voluntarily paid more than $2000 in reparation to the victim.

Judge Crosbie told Wheeler this ‘‘need be the only time you appear in front of court’’.

He understood Wheeler’s relationship had recently ended and she was in an ‘‘emotionally fragile state’’.

The victim had fallen behind in his studies and was suffering anxiety and stress after the accident.

On the charge of leaving a child unsupervised, Wheeler was convicted and discharged, Judge Crosbie noting there were no additional concerns about her parenting.

She was given an electronicallymonitored sentence of six months on the driving charges, with leave to apply for community work and supervision halfway through her sentence.

She was also disqualified from driving for one year, with alcohol interlock and zero alcohol licence provisions to follow.