Alexis Temple sentenced for firey Gladstone car crash

A young Central Queensland man who clocked 130kmh in a 60 zone at night before crashing his Commodore into a power pole has faced court to get his punishment.

Alexis Liam Temple received a suspended jail sentence in Gladstone Magistrates Court.

The shocking moments leading up to a fiery high-speed crash at night in Gladstone Central, have been heard by a court.

Alexis Liam Temple, 25, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on March 21 to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

The court heard that about 8pm on July 30 last year, police were called to a traffic crash on Hanson Road.

When officers arrived at the scene, they saw Temple’s 2006 model Holden Commodore under a power pole having crashed into it, and on fire.

The prosecution said Temple and another man were standing outside the car and police moved them away from the vehicle.

The court heard Temple’s car was destroyed by fire and it was not able to be mechanically inspected as part of the police investigation.

Police obtained CCTV footage from a Hanson Road business which showed Temple’s Commodore being “driven fast” before impact.

The prosecution said police analysed the footage and calculated the car was travelling at 130kmh in a 6okmh zone “just prior to the crash.”

It said Temple had attempted to overtake another vehicle and while doing so, he lost control of his Commodore.

Temple had no previous offending of this sort on his traffic history but he did have a drug driving offence in 2018.

Solicitor Rio Ramos said Temple was working as a shed builder in Gladstone but he lost that employment, and he was soon to start a job trial at a car workshop.

Ms Ramos said Temple lost his $40,000 car in the crash but the prosecution disputed this as it was a 2006 model vehicle.

The prosecution conceded Temple had suffered “some loss” but said it was not to the extent of $40,000.

Before handing down the penalty, Acting Magistrate Mary Buchanan said what happened on the night of the crash seemed to be “incredibly dangerous driving” not only to Temple and his passenger but also to the public.

Ms Buchanan told Temple he was lucky the outcome was not worse.

She sentenced him to three months’ jail wholly suspended for an operational period of 12 months.

A conviction was recorded.