Traffic Controller Pleads Guilty to Drink Driving After Claiming Bird Caused Crash

A traffic controller in Queensland, Australia, has pleaded guilty to drink driving after crashing her car while nearly double the legal blood alcohol limit. Indya Rose Djukich, 24, told police officers responding to the crash that she swerved due to a swooping bird. The incident occurred in Maroochydore in February, and Djukich's blood alcohol concentration reading was 0.098.

Key Takeaways:

• Djukich pleaded guilty to one charge of drink driving in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on May 27.
• Police prosecutor sergeant Rebecca Lambert told the court that officers responding to the crash could smell alcohol on Djukich's breath.
• Djukich claimed that a swooping bird caused her to swerve and crash into a parked car, damaging several vehicles and her own car.
• Djukich took responsibility for her actions, apologizing to the court and stating that she was "really, really sorry".
• Maroochydore magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist ordered Djukich to be disqualified from driving for one month and pay a $300 fine.

Statistics:

• Djukich's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) reading was 0.098, nearly double the legal limit in Australia (0.05).
• The incident occurred in Maroochydore, Queensland, in February.
• Djukich is a traffic controller and works in logistics.
• The court ordered Djukich to be disqualified from driving for one month.
• Djukich was fined $300.

Sources:

• "Traffic controller who crashed BMW while driving nearly double the legal blood alcohol limit told police officers she swerved due to a swooping bird" [Source: Courier-Mail, 28 May 2023]
• Court transcript of Indya Rose Djukich's appearance in Maroochydore Magistrates Court [Source: Queensland Courts]