Drug-driver escapes conviction for crash
A FORMER TAC worker was on drugs when she did an illegal U-turn in to the path of police car on the highway at Corio, causing a shocking crash.
Amanda Rector and Police Sergeant Daniel Willsmore were lucky to survive the horror crash on August 13 last year, but both sustained injuries and mental trauma.
The vehicles were written off when the police station wagon slammed into the driver’s side of Ms Rector’s maroon Toyota Corolla at almost 120km/h on the Princes Highway about 1.15am.
The Geelong Magistrates’ Court was told the police car flipped 1½ times, and Sgt Willsmore thought the other driver had been killed.
Ms Rector — who was flown to The Alfred hospital after the crash with serious facial and leg injuries — pleaded guilty yesterday to counts of drug driving, careless driving and possessing methylamphetamine, and left court without a conviction.
Magistrate John Lesser gave the 39-year-old a $1250 fine and cancelled her drivers’ licence for three months.
Mr Lesser was told Sgt Willsmore was driving in the far right of three Melbournebound lanes of the highway — between St Georges Rd and Purnell Rd — after being radioed to attend a call-out north of Geelong.
Because of the nature of the job he was attending, the officer had not activated his flashing lights or siren.
But he was driving above the 80km/h speed limit when Ms Rector turned from the farleft lane across the middle lane and into his path, where her Toyota was “T-boned” and pushed into the grassy median strip.
Prosecutor Acting Sergeant Alana Groves said Sgt Willsmore “attempted to brake heavily but was unable to avoid hitting the accused’s vehicle”.
Defence lawyer Adrian Paull said while the police officer was doing his job and was allowed to drive over the speed limit, the crash might have been avoided, or less serious, if the police car was going slower.
Mr Paull said Ms Rector had no recollection of the crash or the moments leading up to it, and was an inexperienced driver at the time in an unfamiliar area.
He said it was possible she mistook the duplicated, oneway stretch of highway for a “single carriageway” and did not realise the police car was bearing down behind her when she attempted a U-turn.
“Ms Rector bears the physical impact of this, and the police officer bears the psychological trauma,” Mr Paull said. “My understanding is he believed he killed her.”
Sgt Groves confirmed the impact on her colleague, saying he now admitted sometimes second guessing himself when driving for work.
She said Sgt Willsmore was taken by ambulance to Geelong hospital after the crash where he was treated for physical injuries, including a swollen nose, cuts to his arms and hands, bruising on his right shoulder and left hip and sore ribs.
Ms Rector’s blood was tested while she was at The Alfred, confirming traces of methylamphetamine in her system, while the drug was found in crystal form in her car, the court heard.
Mr Lesser said the drug use was “an aggravating factor” in the offence, but noted the serious physical injuries she suffered.
“The whole incident is unfortunate for everyone involved,” Mr Lesser told the defendant.
“There are elements of it you have to take responsibility for, and you have done that today.”