OAMARU DISTRICT COURT
AN Oamaru man found to have MDMA in his system after he crashed his car, seriously injuring a female passenger, told police he was at a loss to explain the presence of the class B drug.
Charles Anthony Pollard (21) appeared before Judge Joanna Maze in the Oamaru District Court this week for sentencing on two charges of careless or inconsiderate use of a vehicle causing injury.
The court heard Pollard, who pleaded guilty at an earlier appearance, was the driving his car on State Highway 1 near Dacre in Southland about 5am on April 12.
Also in the vehicle were two passengers — a female in the front and a male in the back.
The car was behind another vehicle that was following a petrol tanker, which indicated it was turning into a driveway.
As Pollard attempted to pass the tanker he clipped its rear bumper, which ripped open his vehicle and sent it spinning to the lefthand side of the road ahead of the tanker.
All three in the vehicle were injured in the crash and taken to Southland Hospital shortly afterwards.
A blood sample was taken from Pollard, which showed a bloodalcohol level of 55mg.
The class B controlled drug MDMA was also found, as was THC — the active chemical found in cannabis.
Pollard, who told police he did not realise the tanker had slowed, admitted he consumed two bottles of beer the previous night and had smoked part of a cannabis joint two days before the crash, but claimed he did not know how the MDMA came to be in his system.
He suffered a back injury and concussion, which had resulted in ongoing seizures and his licence being revoked on medical advice.
The female suffered lacerations to her face and head, a fractured left shoulder which required surgery and a concussion. The male received a cut to his left eye.
Pollard was convicted and disqualified from driving for six months.
Other convictions
CherieLee Bevan (44), of Oamaru, drinkdriving, 791mcg, Severn St, August 24, fined $500, court costs $130, disqualified six months.
Tara Manuel (25), of Oamaru, driving while disqualified, Awamoa Rd, August 22, 40 hours’ community work.
Nicholas Edward Lea’Aemanu (20), of Oamaru, drinkdriving, 153mg, Reed St, September 8, fined $500, court costs $130, disqualified six months.
Codie Riley Coster (19), of Oamaru, May 28, theft, 110 hours’ community work, $124 reparation; breach of community work, in Oamaru, convicted and discharged.
Mark Karaka (57), of Oamaru, drinkdriving, 882mcg, Weston Rd, May 4, 12 months’ supervision, six months’ community detention, disqualified for 28 days under alcohol interlock sentence.
Troy Anaru Marshall McKay (45), of Oamaru, driving while suspended, Craigie Ave, Timaru; refused officer’s request for a blood specimen, Eden St, April 28, nine months’ supervision, six months’ community detention, disqualified 15 months; careless driving, Eden St, April 28, $800 reparation.
Richard Ross Kelly (26), of Oamaru, driving while disqualified, Wharfe St, July 15, 75 hours’ community work.
Dale Robert Leigh (49), of Oamaru, drinkdriving, 81mg, Evans St, Timaru, nine months’ supervision, disqualified 28 days under alcohol interlock sentence.
Tayne Gavin Russell (20), mechanic, of Oamaru, drinkdriving, 600mcg, Fleet St, September 8, fined $400, court costs $130, disqualified six months.
Joseph Troy Fisher (18), of Oamaru, drinkdriving, 178mg, Reed St, August 18, disqualified three months.
Jacob Matthew Presnall (37), of Weston, theft of meat valued at $36, property of New World Windsor, Invercargill, August 3, ordered to come up if called on within nine months.
Nicholas Kern Dijkmans McElhinney (28), of Oamaru, refusing an officer’s request for a blood specimen, in Oamaru, September 22, six months’ community detention, nine months’ supervision, disqualified 15 months; refusing to accompany an officer, Kakanui Rd, September 22, convicted and discharged.