A Portadown woman who caused two accidents after driving whilst nearly four times the legal limit will learn her fate next month.
The district judge told the 34-year-old that the last time she had heard a case like this it left “a wife widowed and two children fatherless”.
Julie Gordon, of Mount Pleasant, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol, two counts of failing to report an accident, failing to remain at the scene of an accident, failing to stop at an accident and careless driving at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Court heard that on February 19, police received a report of a road traffic collision on Bridge Street, Portadown.
A Vauxhall Isignia, which had signalled to turn right, had been hit from behind by a Volkswagen Passat which had driven off.
Whilst on their way to the incident, officers received a second report involving a Renault Scenic and the same Passat near the KFC on Bridge Street.
This time the vehicle was not able to be moved from the scene and the female driver had made off on foot.
Police attended the home of the last registered owner of the car and whilst there they witnessed the defendant returning home.
It was noted that Gordon’s speech was slurred, she was unsteady on her feet and smelled of intoxicating liquor.
A preliminary breath test resulted in a fail and whilst in custody, a reading of 134mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath was obtained.
Defence solicitor Siun Downey commented that she felt a pre-sentence report may be required.
District Judge Bernie Kelly stated: “The last time I heard facts like this, the final vehicle collision resulted in the death of the male driver in the other car.
“That left a wife widowed and two children fatherless.”
She added: “You were so drunk you hit every car on the road, you are lucky no one was killed”.
The case will return on June 7 for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.
