A drunken P-plate driver who sped off after running down a woman outside a Wollongong nightspot has pleaded guilty to the crime.
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Childcare worker Nicole Johnson was drunk and using her mobile phone when she hit a pedestrian outside the Grand Hotel just before 2am on August 24.
The green P-plater had been turning right from Burelli Street into Keira Street when she hit a woman who had stepped onto the road without looking. The impact shattered the windscreen of her small, grey Nissan Micra and threw the woman into the air.
Johnson, 22, sped away from the scene, drawing the attention of police as she travelled west along Crown Street at up to 80km/h and ran a number of red lights.
A number of witnesses to the hit-and-run gave chase, pointing police towards the car.
The young Helensburgh woman pulled over in Railway Parade and was breath-tested by police, returning a positive reading.
She was taken into police custody for drink-driving and leaving the scene of a crash.
A further breath analysis revealed she had a blood-alcohol reading of 0.128.
‘‘Whilst in custody the accused was very remorseful and upset for her actions,’’ the police facts said, noting she asked constantly about her victim’s injuries.
Witnesses to the crash told police Johnson had been using her mobile phone when she hit the woman, which was confirmed by her phone records.
On Tuesday, she pleaded guilty in Port Kembla Local Court to several offences including negligent and dangerous driving, drink-driving, using a mobile phone and failing to stop and assist after the crash. No information was provided to the court about the extent of her victim’s injuries. The matter was adjourned for sentence on Tuesday, October 14.