Boozed-up driver in serious accident

A DRUNK-DRIVER who caused a nasty accident on a public road that dissected a farm had learned a “significant and serious lesson” from his serious injuries, a North Queensland court was told.

Farmer Scott Lindsay Willett, 39, pleaded guilty to driving well over the general alcohol limit in relation to the incident on Stone River Road at 5.30pm on January 25 when he appeared in the Ingham Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Police prosecutor Len Brown said Willett had consumed about half a dozen ciders before jumping in his Mitsubishi Pajero to check a feral animal trap in a field across the road, failing to notice or give way to an oncoming Mitsubishi Triton.

Mr Brown said the force of the impact was so severe that the Pajero had rolled on to its roof on Wilmar Sugar train tracks.

He said due to the nature of his injuries, he was unable to provide a breath sample, with a subsequent blood sample taken some time later recording 0.092, almost double the limit.

Defence lawyer Nick Douglas said his client had received a “significant and serious lesson that Mr Willett had to face as a result of this one incident”.

He said his client suffered serious neck injuries, including two crushed vertebrae and had spent two months in hospital.

As well as the physical scars, he said his client had trouble with his balance and remained on pain medication.

Mr Douglas said Willett, a father of two young children, accepted his involvement in the accident, had learned from his mistake and been fined by police for failing to give way.

Willett was fined $750 and disqualified from driving for two months.