Zachary Robert Kolm bail conditions modified

The “monumentally remorseful” man charged over the death of Nicholas “Joel” Wright asked a Bundaberg court to change his bail conditions.

The man charged with causing the death of Nicholas "Joel" Wright in a drug-fuelled car crash was granted a change to his bail conditions to allow him to support his partner's pregancy.

The bail conditions for a Bundaberg man charged with causing the death of Nicholas “Joel” Wright were changed on March 8 to accommodate the impending birth of his child.

Zachary Robert Kolm, 23, was granted bail in Bundaberg Magistrates Court in August 2023 on charges of manslaughter, driving without a licence and driving an unregistered vehicle following the death of Nicholas Wright in a Burnett Heads crash.

Police allege Mr Kolm was driving a mechanically unsound car dangerously before the crash, with video footage showing the car travelling more than 180km/h and GPS data showing speeds of 188km/h.

Police also allege Mr Kolm had taken the drug MDMA and a large quantity of alcohol on the night of the crash.

The conditions of Mr Kolm’s release on bail included a requirement to live at a specific Bundaberg address between the hours of 7pm and 7am, and not go to any licensed premises or have a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.05.

The man charged with causing the death of Nicholas "Joel" Wright in an alleged drug-fuelled car crash was granted a change to his bail conditions to allow him to support his partner's pregnancy.

On Friday, Bundaberg Magistrates Court heard Mr Kolm’s partner was expecting a child on May 1, and Mr Kolm was seeking a modification to his bail conditions to allow him to go to medical appointments with his partner and attend his child’s birth.

Mr Kolm’s lawyer said that while the charges that his client was facing were “incredibly serious”, he could reassure Magistrate John McInnes that Mr Kolm would be complying with any conditions imposed by the court.

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Police allege Mr Kolm was driving a mechanically unsound car dangerously before the crash, with video footage showing the car travelling more than 180km/h and GPS data showing speeds of 188 km/h.

“Whilst there’s been a tragic event in which a young guy has lost his life, Zach’s life will never be the same again,” he said.

“He’s monumentally remorseful for this actions.”

The court heard the nature of Mr Kolm’s alleged offending involved drugs, and he would not be seeking any alteration to the conditions restricting his intake of alcohol.

While a submission had been made to the police prosecutor’s office including medical evidence demonstrating Mr Kolm’s partner’s pregnancy, his partner was present in the courtroom gallery and stood up to demonstrate she was “in the full bloom of life”, as Mr Kolm’s lawyer described her.

In addition to seeking leave to attend medical appointments, the court heard Mr Kolm wanted to visit his grandfather, who had a dementia condition, in his Hervey Bay home.

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Mr McInness granted an exception to Mr Kolm’s bail conditions allowing him to stay at his grandfather’s Hervey Bay address, and to be away from his nominated Bundaberg home address when attending a medical or prenatal facility.

Mr Kolm’s matters were adjourned to a mention hearing on April 5.