Chris Dobney
Byron’s drunken revelry gained new heights in the early hours of Sunday morning when a drunken backpacker rolled her van and slammed it into the front of The Junction restaurant.
‘We had not considered a drive through,’ said Dave Edgson, manager of The Junction, ‘but she has given us food for thought’.
The driver, who has variously been described as Swedish and Irish, was apparently attempting to make a right-hand turn when the accident happened at about 2am.
After she returned a positive breath test, the woman was taken to Byron Bay Police Station, where she blew 0.181, nearly five times the legal limit.
Edgson said the deck of the newly renovated restaurant had been pushed into the window, causing it to crack but not break, and part of the fence around the outdoor dining area was demolished.
‘Ultimately, The luck of the Irish was on our side as the venue was closed so no-one was injured, thankfully.’
The backpacker, who was charged with high-range drink driving, will appear in Byron Bay Local Court on November 1.
it took this for the cops to wake up that someone was driving at 5 times the legal limit? Perhaps the cops should stop harassing the hippies and gypsies up there in Byron and start doing their job…..preventing this kind of thing from happening.
A classic example of visitors to the Bay indulging way beyond any reasonable limits – all i can say is thank god no-one was hurt! If you want to help reverse binge drinking -particularly amongst young people – support our national weekend of action and help us to spread our message “drink less and go easy” everyone. Di Mahoney Director Byron Youth Service http://www.facebook.com/CringeTheBinge