12:00a.m. 18th October 2007

| By Rae Wilson

Luke Owens, 20, of Maroochydore man, already disqualified from driving, drank half a carton of beer and crashed his car twice in one night. Photo: Rae Wilson

A Maroochydore man, already disqualified from driving, drank half a carton of beer and crashed his car twice in one night.

Luke Owens, 20, was driving home along Maud Street at Maroochydore about 12.30am on September 23 when he lost control on a bend.

He fishtailed and slid on to the wrong side of the road, forcing another driver to swerve sharply but unable to avoid a collision.

Mr Owens, knowing he was disqualified from driving and would be over the legal alcohol limit, fled down Bungama Street with the driver of the other car in pursuit.

While trying to execute a turn into May Street, Mr Owens lost control a second time.

He ran off the road, drove through a front lawn, crossed onto the other side of the road, bumped a kerb, and crashed into a parked car.

Police prosecutor Leanne Chawner told Maroochydore Magistrates Court that Mr Owens admitted “he had been driving like an idiot and was being reckless”.

She said he did stay at the scene of the second accident and recorded a 0.126% BAC at 1.20am.

Acting Senior Constable Chawner said Mr Owens told police he had consumed half a carton of beer at the Mooloolaba Bowls Club earlier in the night.

Solicitor Ross Felmingham said Mr Owens was driving home on a damp road and his vehicle swung out on the bend.

He said Mr Owens, a timber yard hand, drove off because he “panicked”.

Mr Owens was fined $2300 for driving without due care and attention, failing to give particulars, drink-driving and disqualified driving. He was disqualified from driving for two years.

A cyclist also faced court yesterday for drink-driving more than three times the limit.

Bradley Wayne Booth, 26, was riding “all over the road in front of police” with a 0.176% BAC about 1.50am on September 29.

He told police he had earlier consumed about seven schooners and was riding down to get food.

“I just honestly did not know it was an offence,” he told the court yesterday. “I had to work the next day. I was hungry. I had nothing really in my cupboard, I just went down to get a feed.”

Acting magistrate Russell Lebsanft warned that riding any vehicle – including pushbikes, horses and skateboards – above the legal alcohol limit was against the law. He fined Mr Booth $375 without a licence disqualification.