P-Plate driver blows high range, crashes car and loses licence after drinking session at Balmoral Beach.

By ANNA USHER

A P-Plate driver who blew three times over the legal limit crashed his car onto a pedestrian overpass after a drinking session at Balmoral Beach.

21-year-old Alexander Salmond Hecimovic appeared in Manly Court last week, where he pleaded guilty to one count of high range drink driving.

He was convicted and handed a two-year community correction order of good behaviour for two years.

The court was told the man was behind the wheel of a Hyundai Elantra when he tried to drive across a narrow walkway that spans the Bradfield Highway, Warringah Freeway and Cahill Expressway at North Sydney.

But the car became stuck just metres after Hecimovic drove the sedan onto the overpass at the eastern end of Ridge St, at 11.45 pm on January 11.

The pedestrian walkway is used to get across the 10 lanes of traffic on the expressways and is a popular walking route between the North Sydney CBD and Neutral Bay.

The court was told that Hecimovic, of West Pennant Hills, and a friend had been drinking at Balmoral Beach before he decided to drive home.

When police arrived at the overpass, they saw the Hyundai trying to reverse off the bridge, according to a facts sheet tendered to the court.

Police found Hecimovic with bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. Officers also discovered a “half-consumed bottle of liquor” in the car.

“Throughout the encounter (Hecimovic) was severely argumentative and uncooperative with police inquiries,” the facts sheet stated.

Magistrate Lisa Stapleton was told that Hecimovic and his friend “repeatedly” changed their versions of how the car ended on the walkway and who was behind the wheel.

However, the passenger eventually confirmed that Hecimovic was the driver.

“He was substantially over the limit,” Magistrate Stapleton said.

“How do I know this?” she asked. “Because he tried to drive over a pedestrian overpass.

“He was a danger to others.”

Hecimovic was also disqualified from driving for six months along with the community correction order.