Garry Alan Neville Donald jailed for crash while drink driving and evading police
An intoxicated driver who seriously injured a North Queensland woman when he crashed his car fleeing police has been sentenced in court.
Townsville
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A drunk driver who crashed into a vehicle and badly injured a woman after trying to evade police in Charters Towers has been handed a lengthy jail sentence.
Garry Alan Neville Donald, 40, had been drinking heavily at a wedding on September 5, 2020, and again the next day before getting behind the wheel, the Townsville District Court was told.
Crown Prosecutor Monique Sheppard said police were on the lookout for Donald’s vehicle after he was observed by pub patrons performing repeated burnouts at 6.45pm.
Officers observed him driving “erratically” on Mosman St where he pulled over to let a passenger out before speeding off.
Diana Sloman and a friend stopped into Charters Towers for dinner during a trip between Cairns and Winton but their vehicle was struck by Donald.
Police estimate that he was travelling at 103km/h in a 40km/h zone before crashing into the women’s driver side door and veering off into a metal pole.
Donald unsuccessfully tried to run away with a fractured right ankle.
Smelling of alcohol, with open cans of beer visible in the car, Donald registered a blood-alcohol content of 0.302 – more than six times the legal limit.
Donald appeared in court Tuesday, pleading guilty to the dangerous operation of a vehicle causing grievous bodily harm while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance and excessively speeding, driving while under the influence of liquor, disobeying the speed limit and evading police.
Ms Sheppard said Ms Soloman suffered horrific injuries, which included fractures to the pelvis, ribs and vertebrae, requiring two major surgeries to insert screws and plates.
Ms Sloman continued to experience “significant pain”, and faced the likelihood of further surgery.
Defence Barrister Michael Hibble said his client, who was the father of two children, had been a “functional alcoholic” for over 20 years who concealed his alcohol use from his wife.
Since the crash, Donald started attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, visiting a psychologist, doing driver education programs, writing a letter of apology to Ms Sloman, and abstaining from alcohol.
“As a direct result of his own offending … he will be terminated from the (Charters Towers Regional) Council,” Mr Hibble said.
“My clients got not only the remorse attached to injuring this woman … but he’s got the consequences of his wife now having to try to pay a mortgage (with a part-time wage).”
Judge Paul Smith said it was lucky no one was killed by the crash.
He acknowledged the steps taken towards rehabilitation, positive character references, and the family impacts from Donald’s incarceration, and his need to find work interstate.
Judge Smith sentenced him to five years imprisonment, to be suspended after 16 months with a five year operational period, and a three year licence disqualification.
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Originally published as Garry Alan Neville Donald jailed for crash while drink driving and evading police
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