A five-week-old baby named Florence narrowly escaped serious injury after an allegedly drunk driver crashed into six vehicles in the Coles car park at Turramurra on Sydney's upper North Shore. The incident has highlighted the devastating potential consequences of high-range drink driving, with the child's parents showing remarkable composure despite the trauma.
Josh Quaife was unclipping Florence from her car seat when a Lexus reversed at high speed into their vehicle. According to 7News, Quaife said: "As I was unclipping her, I could see in my peripherals, this car just flying at me. So I had to jump out of the way." The impact was forceful enough to eject the child from her car seat, which had not been fully secured at the moment of collision.
"I thought she was actually going to get crushed in that instant, which was terrifying," Quaife told reporters. Both father and daughter escaped serious injury, though the incident left witnesses shocked by how close tragedy had come. Quaife later reflected on the timing: "If it was a few seconds earlier, I would have been holding her getting her out of the car, and would have been crushed, so it was lucky I was two or three seconds too slow to settle her."
The crash caused extensive damage across the car park. Multiple vehicles were totalled, and witnesses reported seeing the driver, a 62-year-old woman, discarding a bottle moments before the collision. As reported by 9News, after the crash, bystanders prevented the driver from leaving the scene. One witness, Richard Hughes, said: "She's adamant she hadn't hit anyone and she was trying to leave. So we managed to get the keys off her, out of her handbag."
When police arrived, they found the woman in a nearby toilet. She was transported to Hornsby Police Station, where she allegedly recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.268, more than five times the legal limit of 0.05. At that level, medical authorities note that a person faces a high risk of blackouts and severe confusion. Her driver's licence was suspended immediately, and she faces court next month on charges of dangerous driving and high-range drink driving.
Despite the trauma, Florence's parents demonstrated compassion towards the driver. Quaife said: "I really feel for her and I hope she gets the support she needs. But, you know, we forgive her. But it's inexcusable, really." Florence's mother added: "I'm just so thankful that both Josh and Florence were OK. We just keep thinking it could have been so much worse."
The incident underscores the dangers of driving under the influence and the critical importance of child restraint safety. While the outcome avoided tragedy, it serves as a stark reminder of how quickly a moment of negligence can place vulnerable lives at risk. The case will proceed through the courts, with the driver facing serious legal consequences for her actions on the day.