Drink-driver charged after car crashes onto river, NSW

A man has been charged with mid-range drink-driving after a car crashed and rolled into the Macintyre River – in the state’s north this morning.

Officers from New England Police District were called to the Macintyre River about 1am (Thursday 6 October 2022), following reports a Holden Commodore travelling along Captain Cook Drive, Inverell, before it left the roadway and continued down an embankment, into the river.

The driver and the four male passengers – aged 24, 27, 19 and 19 – all exited the vehicle safely and swam to the riverbank, uninjured.

Police conducted further inquiries resulting in the driver attending Inverell Police Station.

The 28-year-old driver was subjected to a roadside breath test which returned a positive result.

The man underwent a secondary breath analysis, which returned an alleged reading of 0.097.

The Inverell man was charged with mid-range PCA, drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, and use light vehicle not comply with tyre standard.

The man was granted conditional bail, to appear at Inverell Local Court on Thursday 27 October 2022.

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