An off-duty Australian police officer has been charged with high-range drink driving during the Northern Territory’s five-day Easter road safety blitz.
The 46-year-old police officer was subject to a roadside breath test on Friday which was set up as part of the territory’s five-day Operation Thalen targeting drink and drug driving, vehicle registration, and roadworthiness.
Police say he returned a high range reading of 0.158 or more than three times the legal limit.
The officer was charged with high range drink driving and his driver’s licence was immediately disqualified.
He has been bailed to appear in Darwin Local Court on April 21 and directed to take leave.
The Easter holiday period is one of the busiest times of year on Australian roads, with collisions often occurring.
Three people are dead including a young child after a car slammed into a tree on the New South Wales (NSW) south coast.
Police say the Honda Accord left the Princes Highway at Lake Tabourie, south of Ulladulla, shortly before 4.30 a.m. on Saturday.
The female driver and two passengers —a man and a young child—died at the scene. They are yet to be formally identified.
A fourth occupant of the car was airlifted to hospital. His condition is not yet known.
There were no other vehicles involved in the crash.
Investigators have established a crime scene that is continuing to be examined in a bid to determine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Road closures are in place.
A report will be prepared for the information of the coroner.
A woman also died in hospital on Saturday morning following a single-vehicle crash in Sydney’s south, police said.
The 46-year-old was a passanger in a car which struck a power pole on Ramsgate Road at Ramsgate on Friday evening.
The 64-year-old driver of the Hyundai also sustained suspected spinal injuries and is in St George Hospital.
