A NORTH Nowra man who overtook a Rural Fire Service truck on double yellow lines before crashing his utility shortly after and returned a breath reading almost five times the limit has avoided a jail sentence.
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Instead, Cameron William Ross, 41, was placed on a 12-month intensive correction order by Nowra Local Court Magistrate Gabriel Fleming, meaning he can serve his sentence in the community rather than in jail.
Ross pleaded guilty to high-range drink driving.
Court papers said Ross had been swimming in Broughton Creek, east of Bomaderry, on December 1 last year.
It is alleged he drank a bottle of red wine while at the location and hadn't eaten anything.
The court heard at about 2.30pm Ross then drove a utility back towards Bomaderry on Bolong Road.
He allegedly overtook an RFS truck on double yellow lines while crossing the Broughton Creek bridge.
Police facts said shortly after Ross's utility veered off the road and down an embankment before crashing into two trees near the former Shoalhaven paper mill site.
The RFS crew stopped at the accident scene and rendered assistance, with court papers saying, Ross was still sitting in the vehicle which had suffered extensive damage.
He had to be helped from the vehicle by NSW Ambulance and NSW Police personnel.
Police said he was slurring his words, his actions were slow, his eyes bloodshot and he required assistance to walk.
Ross suffered numerous cuts and abrasions in the accident as well as a fractured clavicle and three fractured ribs and was taken to Shoalhaven District Hospital but due to his level of intoxication could not tell police what had happened.
He returned a breath reading almost five times the limit, 0.247.
Magistrate Fleming also fined him $2000, ordered he perform 140 hours of community service, disqualified him from driving for eight months and ordered he have an interlock divide fitted top his vehicle for two years.
Read more: Crime/Court