Brisbane man‘s ‘diabolical’ traffic history revealed after highway crash

A court has heard how a jail sentence could be the “difference between life and death” for a repeat drunk driver from north Brisbane after a “bizarre” Cunningham Highway blunder.

Brisbane man‘s ’diabolical’ traffic history revealed after highway crash

A drunk north Brisbane driver has put pedal to the metal and inexplicably pursued another road user along a busy highway despite the other driver initially offering help.

Lutwyche man William George Davie, 55, pleaded guilty in Ipswich Magistrates Court on November 4, 2022, to dangerous operation of a vehicle, obstructing police, driving a motor vehicle while over the middle alcohol limit, and failing to comply with the duties of a driver involved in a crash.

The court heard the offences occurred on May 28, when Davie drove on the Cunningham Highway with a blood alcohol reading of 0.135.

Sergeant Jo Colston said the facts “could only be described as bizarre”.

She said Davie had stopped in the middle of the highway and another driver had pulled over and asked if he was OK.

Davie told him he was fine and the driver continued on but Davie then followed and overtook him, driving into oncoming traffic to do so.

The other driver did a U-turn back towards Warwick and Davie followed, sped up and attempted to ram into his car.

The other driver pulled over and Davie followed so they could have a conversation.

After speaking briefly, Davie circled his car around him, revved his engine and slammed forward into the other car’s rear driver’s side door – causing around $935 damage.

Sergeant Colston said Davie had a significant and relevant criminal and traffic history of disqualified driving, drink driving and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

Defence lawyer Jim Coburn said Davie had experienced significant trauma at an early age, and had been struggling at the time of this offending as a result of that trauma resurfacing.

He said this resulted in Davie reverting back to the use of alcohol, which he had previously relied upon, along with drugs.

“He had, since 2019, been able to deal with those demons and keep his illicit substance abuse in check …. But it was a very fine line between abstinence and a continual blowout,” Mr Coburn said.

Mr Coburn further tendered a November 3, 2022, letter from the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital emergency department, which revealed Davie had suffered a heart attack the day before his sentencing.

Mr Coburn said Davie had been diagnosed with severe emphysema and cardiomyopathy, at one point was “basically given months to live”, and that it was now bordering on cancer.

He said time in custody could affect Davie’s access to medical care and the timing of that care “could be the difference between life and death”.

Magistrate Leanne Scoines it was a dilemma because Davie’s offending was “outrageous”.

“Not only were you drunk, you were acting in a particularly erratic and bizarre, threatening way,” she said.

“When you’re behind the wheel of a car, carrying on the way that you were carrying, you’re really truly a red hot risk to the community – and it’s chronic. Your traffic [history] is absolutely diabolical.

Davie received a head sentence of 15 months imprisonment, with immediate parole release.

He was disqualified from driving for 10 months for the drink driving and 18 months for the dangerous operation of a vehicle.

Davie was ordered to pay $935 in restitution to the other driver and convictions were recorded.