Damien Joseph Ward jailed for nearly four years over car rollover that killed his friend
A Coober Pedy man – who rolled a car while he had a high level of cannabis in his system, killing his friend – has received his jail sentence in court.
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A Coober Pedy man whose friend died when the car he was driving rolled over has been sentenced to nearly four years in jail for causing death by dangerous driving.
Damien Joseph Ward, 39, was driving his Mitsubishi Pajero on the Stuart Highway at Wirraminna in June 2018 when he lost control and the car rolled, killing his friend Dean Dunn at the scene.
Ward had a high level of cannabis in his system at the time, which he used to cope with chronic back pain.
He lost control of the vehicle and it veered on to the verge.
He then overcorrected, causing the car to roll over.
The pair had left Coober Pedy for Port Augusta on the morning of the rollover, with Mr Dunn driving there, while Ward drove on the way back.
Judge Michael Boylan accepted Ward’s statement that he did not use cannabis during the drive, but said the high level of cannabis in his system prevented him from controlling the car.
Judge Boylan said Ward had not been driving erratically prior to the rollover but a truck driver had seen Ward overtake his truck on a “sweeping bend”.
“It is very difficult to know the precise cause of this tragic accident but, whatever caused you to lose control of the vehicle, your ingestion of cannabis meant you were unable to remedy the situation,” Judge Boylan said.
He said Mr Dunn’s family “have suffered much” and “continue to suffer”.
“They are heartbroken at his death,” he said.
Judge Boylan accepted that Ward “bitterly regrets” his actions and that he would “gladly change places” with his friend.
He said it was “concerning” that Ward had continued to use cannabis since the rollover.
“For more than 20 years you have avoided obtaining proper medical treatment, having surgery and receiving appropriate advice about pain relief from qualified people,” he said.
“You’ve become a recluse, you are ashamed and guilt ridden.”
He said the “last thing” Ward wanted to do was hurt his friend.
Ward was sentenced to three years and seven months in jail with a two year and 11 month non-parole period.