Man tried to drive through fatal accident roadblock

A drink-driver who tried to drive around a roadblock at a crash site where three people had been killed had his licence back for less than two hours.

Joseph Kelly De Thierry, 28, of Pukekohe, was yesterday convicted in Hamilton District Court of drink-driving at Mangatawhiri last Saturday.

De Thierry was arrested after he ignored instructions of a firefighter not to drive into the crash site. As 30 emergency services staff worked to clear the crash, De Thierry attempted to get around the roadblock by driving up a bank, where he got stuck.

Police prosecutor Acting Sergeant Lisa Goodson told the court that when police spoke to De Thierry at 1.40am, his previous disqualification for drink-driving had ended at midnight.

Ms Goodson said De Thierry smelled of alcohol and admitted drinking beer and spirits before driving, but told police he wanted to get home to Pukekohe.

He registered 634mg of alcohol per litre of breath when tested. The legal limit is 400mg.

De Thierry's lawyer, Douglas Hall, said his client had been at a party and had not intended to drive. But when a family argument broke out, he decided to leave.

Community magistrate Mary Symmans warned De Thierry jail was likely if he appeared on another drink-driving charge. De Thierry was convicted, fined $700 and disqualified from driving for nine months.

- NZPA