Witnesses noted crash driver eating a mouthful of gum
A Southampton man found chewing “excessive amounts” of gum following a crash admitted yesterday he had been driving while impaired.
The incident happened shortly after 1.30am on Saturday, when officers responded to a report of a two-vehicle collision on Middle Road in Smith’s.
The officers spoke with witnesses and both drivers and noticed that 28-year-old Reggie Lowe was chewing an unusual amount of gum.
Lowe told the officers he’d only had a Shirley Temple. When pressed, he admitted having an Elephant beer.
He was arrested and taken to Hamilton Police Station where the lowest of two readings revealed 166mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood — double the legal limit of 80mg.
Yesterday he apologised to Magistrates’ Court for his actions.
Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner fined Lowe $800 and banned him from driving all vehicles for one year.

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