WESTERN Bulldogs midfielder Lachie Hunter will front the court later this year after being slapped with four charges by Victoria Police following an alleged drunken car crash in April.
The 25-year-old was suspended for four matches and fined $20,000 ($15,000 suspended) after hitting four parked cars while more than two-times the legal blood alcohol limit.
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He also handed in his vice-captaincy at the Dogs and was hit with a $1652 penalty notice for breaking social distancing laws in place to deal with the outbreak of COVID-19.
This is the damage to Western Bulldogs vice-captain Lachie Hunter’s car after he is alleged to have hit four parked cars while intoxicated last night.
— Mitch Cleary (@cleary_mitch) April 16, 2020
FULL STORY: https://t.co/x0nXuZFlQ4 pic.twitter.com/p6v2iTJsB5
He has been charged with drink driving, careless driving, failure to give his name after a collision and failure to render assistance after a collision.
The 2016 premiership player will front the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on November 4.
Hunter has served three of his four-match ban and will again miss the Dogs' clash with North Melbourne on Saturday night. He will be free to return in round six against Essendon.
Given his actions, Hunter has opted to raise money for the Alfred Hospital road accident trauma program by completing 'Dry July' and not drinking alcohol for the next month.
He will join teammates Tom Liberatore, Aaron Naughton, Caleb Daniel, Billy Gowers and Callum Porter, with a GoFundMe page set-up to collect funds.
"Given recent circumstances me and a few mates have decided to put our own spin on it," Hunter said on the fundraising page.
As revealed by AFL.com.au, alcohol was found on the front seat of Hunter's abandoned car in Wright Street, Middle Park on the evening of April 16 where he is alleged to have hit four stationary cars.
After supposedly exchanging details with owners of two of the vehicles, Hunter engaged 19-year-old teammate Bailey Smith to drive him across town to the South Yarra home of Gowers.
Hunter was nowhere to be seen when police arrived at the scene and later blew 0.123 when he was found by police at Gowers' property.
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Gowers was hit with $5000 suspended fine by the Dogs for his part in the evening where it is understood he failed to fully co-operate in the process.
Smith escaped sanction from the Dogs, however, he was also hit with a $1652 fine by Victoria Police for breaking social distancing laws.