A mother-of-six, who was more than twice the legal alcohol limit when she collided with another vehicle before fleeing, has escaped a conviction.
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The 41-year-old was driving along Smythes Road, Delacombe, when she lost control of her vehicle and collided with a Toyota Landcruiser at 6.20pm on September 9.
The woman, of Soldiers Hill, left the scene in her vehicle despite both vehicles receiving extensive damage.
The Ballarat Magistrates Court was told on Thursday a witness saw the woman leave the scene in her vehicle and followed her until she stopped.
The witness ran to her vehicle, removed the keys and called triple-0.
The court was told police arrived and conducted a preliminary breath test which showed the presence of alcohol.
The woman was then taken to the police station where a breath test revealed a blood alcohol concentration reading of 0.136.
She told police she had consumed six bottles of full strength beer and she thought she was well under.
"I am disgusted if I did the wrong thing," she told police.
Defence lawyer James McKenzie said his client had been drinking earlier that day at a friend's house and her behaviour was out of character.
He said the woman did not have an alcohol problem, but she had experienced trauma in the past.
Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Steve Kent said there was a need for general deterrence, given a drunk-driver harmed an innocent person, and left the scene.
Magistrate Gregory Robinson agreed the incident was serious.
He sentenced her to a 12-month community corrections order with 200 hours of unpaid community work. The woman was disqualified from driving for 12 months.
The magistrate did not convict the woman because of her good character, which was demonstrated by her volunteer work in the community.
She pleaded guilty to drink-driving and failing to stop after a car accident.
The Courier chose not to name the woman because she was not convicted.