Catherine Joan Tyrrell, 41, faced the Wodonga Magistrates Court this week following the crash on September 19 last year.

She had been drinking with friends in Albury before getting into her car and heading south on the Hume Freeway.

Tyrrell crashed the vehicle south of Wodonga about 2.55am and continued driving for three kilometres before stopping in the middle of the freeway.

Police were alerted after traffic backed up behind the crashed car and Tyrrell was arrested.

The 41-year-old later blew a reading of 0.172 back at the Wodonga Station.

Her licence was suspended at the station due to the high level of the reading.

She claimed in court, through her lawyer Angus Lingham, that her drink was spiked and she had no memory of the night after going to the SS&A.

She said she had consumed two or three light beers, got involved with an unknown group of people, and lost her memory.

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Police said claims of drink spiking couldn't explain the alcohol reading, unless her drink was spiked with alcohol.

Tyrrell was completely oblivious to her surroundings when spoken to by officers, such was her level of intoxication.

Mr Lingham said she was far more intoxicated than would be expected of someone at 0.172.

But an officer told the court some people were heavily intoxicated at 0.1 while others appeared completely sober at 0.35.

Mr Lingham said the accuracy of the reading wasn't disputed.

The incident caused $17,000 worth of damage to the car.

Magistrate Mary-Anne MacCallum said it was a serious example of drink driving.

"It's just extremely fortunate no-one was injured or died," she said, and noted other drivers were on the road at the time.

The 41-year-old was banned from driving for 17 months and ordered to pay an $800 fine.

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