Drinkers drive SW police to despair

Bunbury police have raised concern over a spate of serious drink-driving offences at the weekend, including a man allegedly caught driving at more than five times the legal alcohol limit.

Two of the incidents resulted in crashes - including a man who allegedly fell asleep on Robertson Drive and then hit a light pole and another who was treated for hypothermia after being found in his four-wheel-drive submerged in the Outer Harbour.

South West Traffic acting Sgt Rob Malcolm told the _Bunbury Herald _that five people had been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol in separate incidents from Friday night to Sunday.

"We are hoping it is an unseasonable spike," Sgt Malcolm said.

Police charged a 29-year-old Glen Iris man with two offences after he allegedly drove away from police and crashed his car on Robertson Drive on Sunday morning.

The man allegedly fell asleep at the wheel while stopped at traffic lights at the intersection of Picton Road and Robertson Drive.

Const. Jake Carruthers was on patrol with police dog Geoffrey when he saw the driver of a Toyota RAV4 sit through a green light cycle.

Const. Carruthers sounded his car horn to alert the driver but he did not move.

He then approached the car to find the man allegedly hunched over, with his windows down and music blaring.

Const. Carruthers said when he tapped the man on the shoulder, he woke up and allegedly accelerated away, mounting a kerb.

He said the man hit a light pole and drove a further 100m down the road before his car stopped.

At 2am on Saturday, a member of the public alerted police to a car crashed into the water near Jetty Road.

When police arrived, they found a four-wheel-drive in the water and a 36-year-old Carey Park man suffering from hypothermia.

He was taken to hospital for treatment and recorded an alleged blood-alcohol level of 0.253 per cent - more than five times the legal limit.

The man was charged with driving under the influence and will appear in court at a later date.