Man jailed for drink driving twice in one day

A Murchison man caught twice in one day driving with a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit has been sent to jail.

In Nelson District Court yesterday Judge Tony Zohrab jailed Ronald William McKay, 50, clerk, for seven months after McKay admitted two charges of driving with excess blood alcohol and one of driving while forbidden.

Judge Zohrab said that on March 23 McKay approached road works at 90km/h, braked behind a truck that was spreading gravel, lost control of his car and skidded, narrowly missing two road workers.

McKay regained control of the car and, without stopping, continued driving.

He was later spoken to by police and forbidden from driving for 12 hours after recording a blood alcohol reading of 301 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80mg.

"I'm surprised you even knew what day of the week it was, let alone were standing," Judge Zohrab told him. "For most people, that would have killed them.

"It's very rare to see levels over 200, let alone above 300."

McKay was stopped by police two hours later, while getting into his car after buying wine at a Murchison store. He recorded a blood alcohol level of 303mg.

As well as being sent to prison, McKay was ordered to attend an alcohol and drug programme, disqualified from driving for two years and ordered not to have any interest in a motor vehicle for 12 months.

- nzpa