Bystanders snatch keys off drink driver

File photo / Northern Advocate

Hamilton police say bystanders who snatched the car keys off an allegedly "grossly intoxicated" woman who was nearly five times over the legal limit, prevented a tragedy.

Officers were called to the Hamilton Rose Gardens off Cobham Drive after 8pm, when a 50-year-old woman was seen driving erratically around the car park, district road policing manager Inspector Leo Tooman said.

"At one stage her car mounted the footpath and drove into a pole holding up a traffic sign.

"When she had difficulty reversing, observers realised something was wrong and approached her, discovering that she was, in their words 'grossly intoxicated'."

Mr Tooman said a member of the public took the woman's keys and they waited for police.

The woman was taken back to the Hamilton police station and underwent a breath test - it returned a result 1919mcg per litre of breath.

"When you consider the legal alcohol limit for an adult is 400mcg of alcohol per litre of breach that result is astounding."

"In over 40 years of road policing the highest return I can recall was a result of 2300mcg and that was back in 1985. I am extremely concerned about the level of alcohol involved and the manner of driving displayed."

Mr Tooman said had it not been for the quick actions of bystanders, emergency services would have been called out to respond to a tragedy.

The woman's driver's licence was suspended for 28 days and was charged with driving with excess breath alcohol.

She will appear in Hamilton District Court on October 21.

- NZPA