Valium cocktail nearly a killer

AN IPSWICH man narrowly missed crashing into a vehicle outside a school before flipping his car while affected by Valium and alcohol.

Ipswich Magistrates Court heard Edward Francis Lee had swerved across the road in Springfield Lakes and side-swiped a car before almost crashing into another vehicle parked outside St Augustine’s College.

Prosecutor Sergeant Mathew Donnolly said parents were picking up children from the school just before 2.50pm on February 3 when the 55-year-old driver almost smashed into a car.

A short time later Lee rolled his white Ford Falcon on Southern Cross Circuit and the vehicle began leaking petrol.

Sgt Donnolly said ambulance officers and police had arrived on the scene to find Lee trapped in the car. Despite police telling him to climb out the window because of the leaking fuel, Lee simply waved and was incoherent.

Officers dragged Lee out of the car and took him to hospital.

Lee told police he had taken an unknown amount of Valium and drunk two or three glasses of liquor, but could not remember getting in his car or driving.

“The last thing he could remember was watching the midday movie,” Sgt Donnolly said.

Lee pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of liquor or drugs and dangerous operation of a vehicle while adversely affected.

He was sentenced to 18 months probation and his licence was disqualified for nineteen months.

Magistrate Virginia Sturgess said it was disappointing to see Lee in court twice – he had a drink-driving conviction last year – after having an unblemished traffic record for 38 years.

Ms Sturgess told Lee it was extremely concerning he could not remember driving or the crash.

“If you had no recollection of driving you would’ve had no idea what you were doing,” she said.

“Luckily the only person who was hurt was you.”

Defence lawyer Danny Booth said his client had been made redundant from his job in the steel industry due to the global financial crisis and had been prescribed Valium for his arm after undergoing an operation.

Mr Booth said the behaviour was not “typical form” for his client, who volunteers for home-building charity Habitat for Humanity.