Manjimup man charged with DUI and careless driving after ute rollover in Little Grove in late-night crash

A Manjimup man has been charged for allegedly being drunk behind the wheel of his ute when it crashed and rolled after midnight in Little Grove last week. Emergency services rushed to a serious crash about 12.45am on Wednesday, May 22, after a white Holden Rodeo utility that was travelling north on Frenchman Bay Road, crashed and rolled near Spring Street. The 30-year-old male driver was not trapped but was taken by St John WA to Albany Health Campus with minor injuries. He has since been discharged. Police say the man underwent a breath analysis test which allegedly provided a positive result. He was charged with driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and careless driving. His licence was also disqualified. There was a trail of debris left on the road in the aftermath, including personal items and a knife, and there were also significant gouge marks on the road from the rollover. A loose wheel was left abandoned on the grass at the intersection of the crash. The Manjimup man is scheduled to appear on the charges in Albany Magistrates Court on June 20. Great Southern traffic officer-in-charge Sgt Derek Grimes said drink-driving is extremely dangerous. “Drivers who choose to get behind the wheel while under the influence are not only putting their own lives at risk, they are endangering other road users,” Sgt Grimes said. “This is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the WA Police Force. “Members of the community can expect to see our officers out and about on the roads around the Great Southern region and are reminded that we have the ability to breath-test anyone, at any time.”