Teacher was 'seven times the limit' with three kids in car

A school teacher accused of driving at seven times the legal alcohol limit with three children in the back seat has been charged after allegedly crashing her car in Sydney’s south yesterday.

About 8am, 37-year-old Anne Saab was driving a Toyota Landcruiser in a north-easterly direction on Washington Drive, Bonnet Bay, when her vehicle allegedly crossed onto the wrong side of the road and collided with a parked vehicle.

The car then crossed to the correct side of the road and mounted the kerb.

Witnesses observed a woman crawling out of the vehicle and contacted police.

Three children, aged nine, seven, and three, were also pulled from the car by neighbours.

Resident Tracey Bonfante, whose car was smashed into, said she heard “an almighty crash”.

“I didn’t immediately know it was my car which was hit,” she said.

“The lady just sat there emotionless like she was waiting for traffic. When she did get out of the car, she walked around the back and fell in the gutter. She was walking kind of strange.

“At least she hit my car and not kids because where she ended up is actually a bus stop. The kids had just been picked up by the bus. It’s really upsetting.” 

Police attended and spoke to Mrs Saab, subjecting her to a roadside breath test, which she failed.

She was arrested and taken to Sutherland Police Station where she was subjected to a breath analysis, allegedly returning a reading of 0.367.

Mrs Saab was charged with high-range drink-driving and her licence was suspended.

Today, her husband told 9NEWS he was “very upset”.

Traffic and Highway Patrol Chief Inspector Phil Brooks told reporters this morning that the incident was a shocking example of irresponsible behaviour on our roads.

“The driver returned a reading that’s double the high-range limit on our roads putting herself and other road users at great risk,” he said.

“The penalties in this situation are certainly significant. She’ll have to face the courts in coming weeks.

Mrs Saab is due to face Sutherland Local Court on May 3.