As we have highlighted previously, getting caught in alcohol testing is far from the ultimate consequence of having a few drinks and getting behind the wheel. In a recent case in Victoria involving a male roadworker, it led to him killing a friend. He now faces a long stretch in jail.
According to an article on the 9 News website, Christopher Bell jumped behind the wheel of a Bobcat after drinking with three workmates in a work yard. To make the act even more bizarre – and quite possibly highlighting one of the side effects of alcohol – he had never driven the Bobcat before.
CCTV footage shows the Bobcat, being driven by Mr Bell, driving in circles around the work yard, spreading dirt and accelerating towards the workmates. The jovial mood turned to tragedy when the Bobcat veered towards one of the workmates and ran him over.
The workmate was trapped under the machinery. Paramedics were called and while the workmate was initially breathing and conscious, his condition quickly deteriorated and he died in hospital around two hours later.
According to the article, Mr Bell left the scene before police arrived but returned an hour later. He underwent alcohol testing by Victoria Police that showed a reading of 0.1. That is twice the legal blood alcohol limit in Victoria.
Mr Bell was charged with manslaughter by criminal negligence and has pleaded guilty.
His barrister said Mr Bell was deeply remorseful and took full responsibility for his offending.
As quoted in the 9 News article, “The guilt and the horror is something that weighs upon him heavily,” the barrister said in court. “This is a case of stupidity rather than wickedness … but it had extremely grave consequences.”
If only he’d been caught in alcohol testing
Next time someone says something along the lines of, “I was unlucky enough to be caught by alcohol testing” or “alcohol testing in Victoria is just about revenue raising”, remember that failing an alcohol test is far from unlucky. It’s also not about revenue raising. It’s about saving lives.
If Victoria Police had been lucky enough to catch Mr Bell with alcohol testing before the tragic incident, one life could have been saved. He wouldn’t be facing a long prison term. And the families of both men wouldn’t be going through the difficulties that they are now enduring.
Alcohol testing in Victoria does save lives.
Note: Integrity Sampling will be at the Workplace Health & Safety Show in Melbourne on 22 to 23 May 2024. If you’ll be in attendance, stop by our stand and say hello to us at booth B13. It’s also a great opportunity to ask our friendly and professional staff about drug and alcohol management and testing.
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Getting caught in alcohol testing is far from the ultimate consequence of having a few drinks and getting behind the wheel, as an incident in Victoria with a Bobcat tragically demonstrates. Credit Skyler Sawyer https://unsplash.com/photos/a-large-construction-vehicle-parked-in-front-of-a-building-gwILOyFEpGE