Queensland Pair Arrested for Drink Driving After Alleged Seat Swap

A Brisbane duo is in trouble with the law after an alleged seat swap following a drunken crash at a set of traffic lights.

Police claim a 49-year-old man from Kippa Ring was over six times the legal alcohol limit when he crashed into a stationary car at a red light in Margate last Saturday evening.

Officers say he first reversed after the crash, then drove forward, hitting the vehicle a second time at a lower speed. What happened next was even more concerning—he allegedly switched seats with his passenger, a 43-year-old woman from Morayfield, who then drove away.

The car was later found abandoned in a nearby park. When police caught up with the pair, the woman behind the wheel was breath-tested and reportedly blew a blood alcohol level of .213—over four times the legal limit. But the man’s reading was even more shocking: a staggering 0.338, which is not just off the charts but dangerously close to life-threatening alcohol poisoning, according to experts.

Both have been charged with high-range drink driving and driving without a licence. The man also faces an additional charge for failing to meet his duties as a driver involved in a crash.

It’s a sobering reminder of the risks of drinking and driving, and this pair is now facing the serious consequences of their alleged actions.