Council CEO admits drink-driving

Invercargill City Council chief executive Richard King has admitted having up to four red wines before crashing his council-owned car.

King, 57, pleaded guilty to two charges -- drink-driving with excess breath alcohol of 584mcg and careless driving -- when he appeared before Judge Dominic Flatley in Invercargill District Court this morning.

Defence lawyer Bill Dawkins said King consumed the wine during unplanned drinks that afternoon.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Penny Stratford said King failed to stop on a red arrow at an Invercargill intersection as he turned right on August 28.

He drove into the path of an oncoming car.

In a letter read out to the court, King expressed his remorse "for my stupid decision to drink and drive, resulting in an accident".

He said the incident had shown him how a moment's stupidity could hurt others and risk lives.

"Every week we read in the newspaper the names of those people who have been caught drunk driving. I never thought I would be one of them.

"I am ashamed of my actions and take full responsibility for what I have done."

Since the accident King has been the subject of a city council disciplinary hearing and was issued a first and final written warning.

He said, because of that and the pending court appearance, he had been unable to speak out publicly about the accident or express his shock and remorse, especially for the people in the other car.

"I am truly sorry for the trauma I have caused them, for their friends and families."

Judge Flatley said King was lucky the accident wasn't worse but he accepted his remorse.

King was fined a total of $1130 and disqualified from driving for nine months.

- NZPA