Drugs factor in head-on crash

A drugged driver copped the full brunt of his actions ‘‘instead of some innocent member of the community’’, a judge said.

On April 9, Matthew Ross Ratu was found with a cocktail of methamphetamine, methadone, ketamine and cannabis in his system after he caused a head-on crash on Egmont Rd, Bell Block.

Only on his learner driver licence, Ratu was seen about 7.20am by several witnesses driving erratically and crossing the centre line, the police summary of facts said.

The 39-year-old then pulled into the opposite lane to overtake, but instead drove into the path of an oncoming truck.

Ratu, who had to be cut out of the vehicle, suffered serious injuries, including to his legs.

The truck driver suffered a cut to his chin, which needed five stitches, as well as bruising and pain to his legs and back.

Ratu’s car was written off and police said at the time he was ‘‘lucky’’ to have survived.

The defendant previously appeared in the New Plymouth District Court and pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing injury and being in charge of a vehicle when his blood contained evidence of controlled drugs.

At his sentencing on Friday, defence counsel Julian Hannam said Ratu had only recently got back on his feet thanks to ongoing physiotherapy.

Judge Chris Sygrove said Ratu had made an ‘‘extremely poor choice’’ in driving while under the influence of drugs.

‘‘You were the one, instead of some innocent member of the community, who has suffered the most,’’ he said.

Ratu was sentenced to 11 months’ home detention and disqualified for two years.