Sentenced over crash with tanker

A BLACKBALL man who crashed into a fuel tanker fully laden with 32,000 litres of petrol — the tanker driver narrowly avoiding crashing into the Grey River — was sentenced this week in the Greymouth District Court for drinkdriving.

Craig Leigh Elder Stevenson previously admitted driving with a breathalcohol level of 723mg and careless driving.

The crash happened last July about 8am as Stevenson was driving to work in Greymouth. He had been drinking the night before.

The crash, on the BlackballTaylorville road, was captured on a dashcam in the truck cab.

It showed Stevenson’s car cross ing the centre line, overcorrecting and then crashing into the front of the tanker.

Judge Kevin Phillips said Stevenson was lucky no other traffic was on the road at the time and he was also lucky the truck driver had been able to stop in time, having almost ended up in the river.

‘‘There could have been major devastation,’’ Judge Phillips said.

The judge said he struggled to believe that the alcohol in Stevenson’s system was residual from the night before.

Stevenson had one previous drinkdriving offence in 2010 and other convictions for poor and bad driving.

He was sentenced to four months’ community detention for drinkdriving, with a curfew of 7pm to 7am, placed on supervision for six months and disqualified from driving for nine months.

For careless use, Stevenson was convicted and discharged and disqualified from driving for a further three months.

Defence cousel Eymard Bradley said Stevenson had already engaged with alcohol and drug services.

‘‘He is well aware there could have been a tragic accident with the petrol tanker,’’ Mr Bradley said.

Judge Phillips said: ‘‘I think the major issue is the reparation, which is around $28,000.’’ — Greymouth Star