Man charged with dangerous driving fined $1k after argument ended in car crash

What started as and argument became a serious incident when a 36-year-old Tinana man chased down a woman in his car and swerved in front of her, causing her to crash, causing substantial damage.

Ashley Alan Payne originally pleaded not guilty to one charge of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, but halfway through his trial opted to plead guilty instead.​

A 36-year-old Tinana man landed himself in court on Tuesday after a domestic dispute resulted in a dangerous crash at Inskip, where two cars collided while driving along Inskip Avenue in December 2020.

Ashley Alan Payne originally pleaded not guilty to one charge of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, but halfway through his trial changed the plea to guilty instead.

Police prosecutor Melissa Campbell told Gympie Magistrates Court the victim of the crash took off in a car registered in Payne’s name following a verbal dispute with him.

Payne took off after her, Sgt Campbell said, unsuccessfully attempting to overtake her on the right hand side of the road before successfully undertaking her on the left and stopping his car in front of her, resulting in a crash.

Before Payne changed his plea, bodycam footage from Sergeant Michael Emery of Rainbow Beach police beat showed Payne giving a statement of his version of events at the Rainbow Beach police beat.

“My intention was only to go around her, I just wanted her to stop,” he said.

He also said the victim had tried to push him off the right hand side of the road, where he said police would see tyre marks in the grass beside the road.

“I was miles out to the right when she pushed me off, she stayed right up there.”

The court heard Payne was travelling no faster than 40 km as per the speed limit, but substantial damage was still caused to both vehicles.

Payne was fined $1,000 and disqualified from driving for nine months.

A conviction was also recorded.