A drunk driver who crashed into a water main after speeding through a school zone will appear in the Alice Springs Magistrates Court today.

Police received a report just before 8am that a Ford Falcon sedan had collided with a water main outside Larapinta Primary School. Witnesses told police the vehicle was travelling west along Lyndavale Drive at high speed when the driver lost control of the car on a bend in the 40 kilometre per hour school zone. The vehicle skidded into the right hand lane before mounting the kerb and hitting the water main. The driver then fled on foot, however he was arrested at a nearby residence a short time later. He was found to be driving with a blood alcohol level of .162 per cent.

He was charged with:
High range drink driving
Driving at a speed and in a manner dangerous
Drive unlicensed
Drive unregistered and uninsured
Leave the scene of an accident.

Senior Sergeant Peter Dash said the man's behaviour was appalling.

"It's bad enough the driver was unlicensed, but to speed through a school zone, especially at that time of day, whilst highly intoxicated, is outrageous," Sen Sgt Dash said.

"Police are constantly staggered by the thoughtlessness of these sorts of drivers, and despite our continuing appeals to motorists to behave responsibly, our pleas seem to fall on deaf ears. It's just sheer good luck that no-one was killed or injured considering the large number of parents and children in the area at that time of day.

"Police would like to thank those members of the public who reported this incident when it occurred, and we want to assure the community we will continue to prosecute these dangerous and reckless drivers who keep ignoring our warnings."

Media Contact
Theresa Kuilboer
(08) 89518825
0419 803 603