By Mitchell Clarke
A drunk and drug affected driver who fled the scene of an accident in Kooweerup is expected to be charged with a number of offences.
Residents woke to the sound of burnouts followed by a screeching halt just before 7am on Friday 27 September, when a black Ute crashed into a diesel mechanic business on Main Street, coming to rest upside down.
The driver, a 30-year-old man from Myrtleford in Victoria’s north east, was arrested shortly after.
A police spokeswoman said the man is expected to be charged on summons with careless driving, leaving the scene of an accident and drink and drug driving. His license was immediately suspended.
One nearby resident took to social media to say they heard a burnout before the “biggest smash” followed by the sounds of emergency sirens.
The owner of O’Diesel, Owen Milton, told the Gazette it was “very lucky” workers were on site and not in the factory at the time of the crash.
“Myself or one of my workers could have been killed if standing in the car park and I’m certain that more vehicles would’ve been wrecked,” Mr Milton said.
“I park my Land Cruiser where the car hit the bollard so it would have destroyed it too and the amount of trucks we have in and out of the yard, it’s lucky for us nothing else was wrecked.”
Mr Milton thanked emergency services for their response and catching the driver.
“People make their own decisions. If you are stupid enough to get behind the wheel of a vehicle intoxicated and drive, you are a danger to yourself and everyone around you,” he said.
“The driver deserves what ever has coming for him.”
The incident comes just two weeks after Kooweerup police confirmed they were investigating hoon activity in the area. It’s unknown whether the driver was known to police.
Four CFA appliances responded to the incident, with SES also called to assist before being cancelled.
The financial damage to the factory is yet to be confirmed.
