Sutherland Shire mayor Carmelo Pesce says he owes his life to his wife Niki after a ute, allegedly driven by a high-range drink-driver, ran a red light at Cronulla.
Cr Pesce sustained minor injuries in the incident, which occurred on Kingsway about 11.30pm on Saturday.
Police alleged the driver, a 35-year-old man, was three times over the blood alcohol limit.
If it wasn’t for Niki, they could have been electing a new mayor.
- Cr Carmelo Pesce
“We were on the pedestrian crossing, walking towards the mall to get a taxi,” Cr Pesce said.
“When we got to the middle lane, Niki heard a screech and people screaming, and grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back.
“The car hit my knee and ran over my foot.
“If it wasn’t for Niki, they could have been electing a new mayor this week.”
Cr Pesce said police had shown him CCTV footage of the incident.
“The [ute] continued down Kingsway and turned left at Nortrhies,” he said.
“There just happened to be a police car parked there and they followed and stopped him in a side street.”
Cr Pesce said he was awaiting the results of an X-ray on his foot.
Police said in a statement it was alleged the driver, a 35-year-old man, returned a positive result to a roadside breath test and was taken to Sutherland Police station where he returned an alleged breath analysis of 0.162.
He was granted bail and is due to appear at Sutherland Local Court on June 21.
