Brett Anthony Johnson in court for careless driving, drug driving

A Bargara driver had three different drugs in his system when the car got airborne about 100m from his house.

An unlicensed Bargara man who fell asleep at the wheel and drove off the Bargara Causeway into a pond had drugs in his system at the time and was driving dangerously, a court has heard.

Brett Anthony Johnson pleaded guilty in the Bundaberg Magistrates Court to driving without a licence, driving under the influence of drugs and driving without due care.

The court heard Johnson was driving home in the early hours of May 20, 2022 across the Bargara Causeway when he fell asleep at the wheel and lost control of the car.

The court heard the car then veered off the causeway into the freshwater pond, where Johnson woke and climbed out of the car.

Police prosecutor Dean Burgess told the court at roughly 4am police arrived at the scene of the crash and found “wet footprints leading away from the crash scene”.

Brett Anthony Johnson climbed out of his car and walked away after driving off the Bargara Causeway.

Sergeant Burgess told the court Johnson had also damaged guideposts and the footpath.

“There were no brake marks observed,” he said.

The court heard police then reached out to the registered owner of the vehicle, who turned out to be Johnson's father.

Sgt Burgess told the court Johnson was living with his father at the time of the crash, and his address was only 100m from the site of the crash.

Johnson’s father is not accused of any wrongdoing.

Police spoke to Johnson who told police he had fallen asleep behind the wheel, before the car became“airborne and landed in the water”.

The court heard Johnson was unlicensed at the time of the crash, and had simply “forgotten” to renew his licence.

“Police conducted checks and it had expired on the 12th of September 2021, he just hadn’t paid it,” Sgt Burgess said.

The court heard Johnson was then taken to hospital, where a blood test showed three different drugs in his system, including cannabis and methamphetamines.

The Bargara Causeway is only 520 meters long.

“It’s fortunate no one else around, but on the other hand what’s he doing driving with drugs in his system at four o’clock in the morning,” said Sgt Burgess.

Magistrate John McInnes took into consideration the early plea of guilty and Johnson’s limited criminal history.

“I accept that you ended up in court, not because you were hooning but that you did fall asleep at the wheel,” Mr McInnes said.

“Of course, drugs may have had an effect there and that’s slightly more serious.

“It’s a bit more serious when there’s actually driving that could have posed a danger to the public.”

Johnson was fined $1000, referred to SPER, with his licence suspended for three months.

Convictions were recorded.