Car plunge driver had beer, drugs

POLICE who were called to a mountainside car crash at Paluma found the vehicle littered with drugs and empty beer cans.

Keiran Robert Flynn pleaded guilty in the Townsville Magistrates Court yesterday to five charges including driving without due care and attention and possession of dangerous drugs.

The court heard that on February 9 this year police were called to Mount Spec Rd at Paluma where a car had crashed over the side of the mountain.

When police arrived, Flynn was sitting on the side of the road being treated by passing motorists for small cuts to his forehead.

Police prosecutor Cody Rowe told the court Flynn admitted to police that he had been drinking alcohol and had consumed cannabis before the crash.

“Police observed multiple beer cans strewn over the vehicle and located a small clip-seal bag with cannabis, a pipe and a grinder.

“The defendant told the police the crash happened at 2pm that afternoon and after the crash he had crawled back up the mountain,” Mr Rowe said.

The February incident followed a traffic stop by police in January in which Flynn returned a roadside breath test of 0.088, the court was told.

Defence lawyer Adam Harvey told the court his client was a qualified diesel fitter and was suffering from mental health issues.

“He instructs me that he drove off the road,” Mr Harvey said.

He said Flynn was attempting to address his issues with alcohol and drugs and had sought support from Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Services.

Acting Magistrate P. R. Smid acknowledged Flynn’s initiative to seek help for his substance abuse.

“You don’t need a lecture from me, you have woken up to yourself to address your problem,” he said.

Mr Smid disqualified Flynn from driving for nine months.

Convictions were recorded.