Launceston Police have charged two men with high range alcohol related driving offences following separate vehicle crashes on Saturday night.  Thankfully there were no injuries.

A 40 year old Gravelly Beach man was charged with drink driving and other offences following a wet weather crash on the West Tamar Highway at Riverside last night.

The driver lost control of the orange Ford sedan before crashing into a concrete retaining wall, blocking both lanes of the highway for a short period of time.

At the time of the crash an adult female and a 15 month old child were passengers in the vehicle.  Attending police also found the vehicle to be in contravention of vehicle standards, with tyres so bald the internal wire was exposed.

The man was recorded with a breath alcohol reading more than two times the legal limit.

Later the same evening, a 34 year old East Launceston male was also charged with drink driving after crashing a white Holden utility into two parked vehicles on Lyttleton Street.  That male returned a reading of .258, more than five times the legal limit.

Both males were disqualified from driving and will appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court next month.

Inspector Dean McMahon:

‘Police are disgusted and appalled with these dangerous example of driving compounded by alcohol, weather conditions and vehicle defects, the risk this poses is unacceptable’

‘The message is simple if you drink don’t drive’

‘Tasmania Police is committed to keeping the roads safe and value an assistance from the community. We encourage the community to continue to report incidents of dangerous driving immediately to police on 131 444 or if it’s an emergency or life-threatening situation, ring Triple Zero (000).  You can also submit footage to police via our evidence portal at https://www.police.tas.gov.au/report/’

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Sergeant Peter May from Police Radio Dispatch Services said,

In addition, “between 7pm and 3am eight people were charged with drink driving in Southern Tasmania.  These offences were both detected by mobile Police and also at static traffic operations”.

A 29 year old Colebrook man was additionally charged with Disqualified and Drug Driving, Drug Possession as well as the Aggravated Evasion of Police in Hobarts Northern suburbs.  Sergeant MAY said, “As a result, a Subaru Impreza was seized and will be impounded for an indefinite period”.