Wild moment drunk driver caught with bottle of wine behind the wheel after crashing into two cars

By Brett Lackey for Daily Mail Australia

05:19 June 25, 2024, updated 05:28 June 25, 2024

The dramatic moment when an “agitated” drunk driver was arrested, still holding a bottle of wine after causing a crash on a busy road, was captured on police body camera.

Curtis Owen was behind the wheel of the car when he crashed into two other vehicles at an intersection in Strathpine, north of Brisbane, in June last year.

The crash made headlines after a passerby filmed a police officer rushing around the side of the car and hitting Owen before using a Taser.

Owen was arrested and pleaded guilty to nine charges, including driving under the influence and drug charges, before learning his fate in court Friday.

New body camera footage was released to 9News on Monday and showed Owen kicking and throwing a wine bottle at the officer while he was still behind the wheel of the smoking wreck.

Owen had a blood alcohol level of 0.18 – more than three times the legal limit – and is seen in the footage being told to stay in the car and put the bottle back.

But Owen drank the remaining alcohol and threw the bottle at the officer before trying to climb out the window.

He kicked the officer so hard that his glasses and body camera were dislodged and fell to the ground.

The driver ignored the officer’s repeated instructions, leading him to hit the man as he continued to climb out of the window, then deploying his Taser.

Minutes earlier, Owen had crossed an intersection before crossing a traffic island and crashing into two cars, including a red four-wheel drive, stopped at the lights.

Owen also pleaded guilty to spitting at a police officer, assaulting two officers and obstructing a firefighter who was first on the scene.

His lawyer told the court on Friday that he had been drinking heavily after the death of a friend.

The court also heard he had a criminal history including dangerous driving, drug dealing and a 2016 offense of assaulting a police officer.

He was sentenced to 15 months in prison, but was released after being granted immediate parole.

Owen was also ordered to pay $750 in compensation to the officer he spit on and an additional $500 in fines.

An investigation by the Police Ethical Standards Command into the actions of the officer filmed hitting him is still ongoing.

Click here to resize this module