Mackay dad Robert Mathew reveals impact of stolen car head-on crash by Daniel Peter Diakonow

With a freshly paroled criminal in a stolen Subaru coming at them head-on, a brave Qld dad made a split second decision, saving his son’s life but leaving his own forever changed.

Robert Mathew trapped in the driver's seat with his son Stephen, who didn’t leave him, standing outside after a serious head on crash on Mackay Eungella Rd, on August 7, 2024

Seeing the headlights of a stolen car being driven directly at him at 100k/h was one of the most frightening moments of Robert Mathew’s life.

But in that moment, he thought only of his son in the passenger seat and did “what any parent would have done”, swerving left to take the full force of the impact.

The Mackay dad was driving 17-year-old Stephen to work at about 5.20am on August 7, 2024 when a stolen Subaru Forester being driven by Daniel Peter Diakonow, a recidivist Townsville criminal who once escaped a prison farm, veered more than two metres into the opposite lane.

Mr Mathew was trapped in the mangled wreck of his car on Mackay Eungella Rd while a distraught Stephen stayed by his side until help arrived.

Even now, seeing his son’s face and knowing his life “could have been taken” is something that will never leave him.

Robert Mathew said his life was upended when a driver in a stolen vehicle veered into his lane in the early hours of Wednesday morning, August 7, 2024. Photo: Luke Lay

“I had had this horrifying look buried into my brain (from) which I couldn’t ever recover” he said.

“He (Stephen) thought he was dead, I thought I was dead. There was no way the impact could have been avoided.”

Diakonow was convicted in Mackay District Court for unlawfully driving a motor vehicle and dangerous operation of a vehicle causing grievous bodily harm while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance.

Mr Mathew recalled falling in and out of consciousness while he was trapped behind the wheel and scans later revealed a fractured sternum and heel and severe muscle damage.

The grim cleanup confronting emergency crew after the head on crash. Photo: Contributed

In a tearful victim impact statement read in court, Mr Mathew described the pain as the worst he had ever felt and said he was still coming to terms with the fact he would forever have a limp and arthritis in his left foot.

“Two things that I have missed out on due to this crash were my daughter’s 16th birthday and my son’s 18th birthday,” he said.

“I will never get this back, I cannot turn back time. I cry every time I have to think about it. I wish I could forget.”

Crown Prosecutor Rana Aldas said Diakonow had been released on parole three weeks before the crash and had used meth on his first day of freedom.

She described the 35-year-old’s criminal history, which was littered with property, drug and motor-vehicle offences as “nothing short of appalling”.

Robert Mathew was left with a titanium plate and nine screws in his left leg. Photo: Contributed

It included the 2016 offence where Diakonow escaped a low-security prison farm to try to collect a package of ice which he planned to smuggle back into custody.

Defense Barrister Scott McLennan told the court his client’s life had derailed at the age of 14 when he was abused, causing him to turn to drugs at an early age.

He said the Townsville man had stopped using meth prior to the crash and thought he fell asleep at the wheel after only sleeping approximately six hours the night before.

Judge Michael Burnett said while it did give context to the offences, it did not forgive Diakonow’s actions.

Mr Mathew said the internal bruising was one of the most painful things he ever experienced. Photo: Contributed

Mr Mathew said his life was upended by the crash in more ways “a person and a parent should ever have to deal with”, with the relationship with his son, who the court heard “gets emotional every time he has to pass the crash site” marred by the traumatic events.

“I will heal from most of the physical injuries but will not recover mentally from this,” Mr Mathew said.

“I miss my son, he comes down for a visit every chance he can, transport provided by his mother... I thank her for this.

“This hurts so much that I find it impossible to convey my actual state.”

Diakonow was sentenced to four years and nine months in jail and disqualified from driving for six years.