Jason Loechel sentenced for Boyne Island car crash

Things quickly went from good to bad for a concreter “celebrating” his first day back at work when he crashed his car into a power pole, snapping it in half.

Jason David Loechel was sentenced in Gladstone Magistrates Court after he crashed his car at Boyne Island.

A Central Queensland concreter who crashed his car into a power pole was affected by alcohol and three types of drugs at the time, a court has heard.

Jason David Loechel, 35, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle while affected by an intoxicating substance, and unlicensed driving.

Police prosecutor Katarina Pollard said about 4.20pm on February 5, Loechel was driving at “excessive speeds” on Tarcoola Drive at Boyne Island when his car was seen to leave the roadway before re-entering, skidding and crashing into a power pole and a parked car.

“The impact of the crash caused the driver’s side of the vehicle to crumple behind the driver’s seat, and the power pole to snap in half and then cause the damage to the other vehicle,” Ms Pollard said.

Police attended the scene and after a breath test, Loechel returned a blood alcohol reading of .127.

Ms Pollard said after a further test, Loechel returned positives to amphetamine, methamphetamine and cannabis.

“So he was under a concoction of drugs as well as the alcohol,” she said.

Jason David Loechel.

The court heard that at the time of the crash, Loechel’s driver’s licence was SPER suspended.

Loechel had a four-page traffic history which included two previous drug driving offences.

The court heard his criminal history also contained drug offending.

Ms Pollard submitted for a suspended sentence.

Solicitor Cassandra Ditchfield said Loechel was a single father of six who worked as a concreter and she tendered references for him.

“In terms of the offending... it was his first day back at work since October 2023 - he’d suffered a broken foot,” Ms Ditchfield said.

“So from October 2023 to the day of the offence (he had not worked).

“(On the day of the offence) he was invited to knock off drinks essentially... and was in a celebratory mood.”

Ms Ditchfield said Loechel had fractured his collarbone in the crash which then impacted his employment.

During sentencing, Magistrate Mary Buchanan said it was lucky no-one was more seriously injured or killed in the crash.

She sentenced Loechel to six months’ jail, wholly suspended for an operational period of 12 months.

Ms Buchanan also fined Loechel $400 and disqualified him from driving for 12 months.

Convictions were recorded.