Matthew Garry Grimmond jailed over ‘life-altering’ motorbike crash

A Lowood man has been jailed over an horrific motorbike crash which devastated a local family and left the victim with “life-altering” injuries.

“Lifelong consequences”: Careless driver jailed over horror motorcycle collision

A family will have to cope with the “lifelong consequences” of a devastating motorcycle crash which resulted in the man responsible being jailed today (January 24).

Lowood father-of-four Matthew Garry Grimmond, 39, pleaded guilty in Ipswich Magistrates Court to driving without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road, causing grievous bodily harm.

He also pleaded guilty to driving over the general alcohol limit but not over the middle alcohol limit, and driving a defective light vehicle.

The court heard Grimmond was driving north on Coominya Connection Rd, Mount Tarampa (near Lowood) about 5pm on December 11 last year.

Magistrate Robert Walker said a motorcyclist was driving in the opposite direction when Grimmond crossed over the centre line.

The motorcyclist, Shaun Patrick O’Dea, breaked so hard he locked his rear wheel.

Mr Walker said Grimmond collided with Mr O’Dea and knocked him into the road verge.

Mr O’Dea suffered significant injuries and was flown to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in a critical condition.

His injuries included multiple fractures including of his ribs, a fractured and displaced right femur, a displaced left femur and a “degloving’’ (skin torn off) of his foot.

Mr Walker said Mr O’Dea needed multiple operations, was hospitalised for months and likely would have died from his injuries without extensive medical treatment.

He said Mr O’Dea’s victim impact statement revealed how he now dealt with “what appears to be the lifelong consequences” every day.

He said it “speaks of a man who is not able to participate in life in the way he previously did”.

Mr Walker said Mr O’Dea’s wife’s statement said she had been “afraid her husband was going to die” and described his ongoing pain and inability to manage their farm.

Mr O’Dea’s daughter attended court for the sentencing.

Mr Walker said her statement “effectively describes the loss of her father”.

Mr Walker noted Grimmond had told police at the time of the collision he believed his rear left tyre had delaminated, causing him to drift to the left, and he had overcorrected.

A vehicle assessment revealed, however, that the front tyres had insufficient tread and the rear left tyre was deflated – appearing to have been driven on in a deflated condition for some time.

Tyre marks at the scene suggested a “yaw situation”, where Mr Grimmond might have swerved at an inappropriate speed.

Mr Walker said a blood alcohol test at the scene showed Grimmond had a reading of 0.97.

He noted Grimmond had not been charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle, however.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Jo Colston said the presence of alcohol and the defective vehicle were contributing factors to Grimmond’s lack of due care.

“Had the course of conduct been to have a vehicle that was safe on the road and not defective, then perhaps the circumstances of the due care don’t come into play … perhaps he’s able to control the vehicle such that he doesn’t hit the complainant,” she said.

“The message has been clear for a very long time – and that is that if you drink and drive you’re a bloody idiot”.

Exterior picture of the Ipswich Court house Ipswich Friday 28th October 2022 Picture David Clark

Defence lawyer Russell Tannock said “admittedly it was a fairly high (BAC) reading” but there were no allegations his client was drunk.

He said Grimmond had completed a Queensland traffic offenders program since the collision and now “accepts that he was mistaken” in thinking his tyre had delaminated.

Mr Walker noted Grimmond had a relevant traffic history including dangerous driving and alcohol-related driving offences, but said the offences had generally been “mild” since 2009.

“The consequences of your driving in this case are significant, life altering – not just for the immediate victim, but for others too” Mr Walker said.

He said the primary issue for him to determine was whether Grimmond should serve actual time in custody.

“Were this a case of momentary inattention alone … Mr Tannock’s submission (that he should not serve actual time) would be persuasive – but it’s not”.

“My finding is that the elements constituting ‘driving without reasonable consideration for others’ include the alcohol you had in your system, you driving a vehicle which was defective, you deciding to drive with the alcohol on board, and then whatever it was that caused you to lose control of the vehicle”.

Mr Walker sentenced Grimmond to nine months imprisonment, suspended for two years after he serves three months’ actual jail time.

He was further disqualified from driving for 12 months and a further one month for driving with alcohol in his system.

Convictions were recorded.