Peak Downs Hwy crash driver Katrina Adams had extremely high meth reading

A drug addict who drove in such a radically dangerous way, crashing into a miner’s vehicle head-on, had a shocking traffic record and extremely high amount of methamphetamines in her system, a court heard.

ice generic

A drug addict who drove in such a radically dangerous way, crashing into a miner’s vehicle head-on, has the traffic history “of a person who drives in a selfish manner” and had a shockingly and extremely high amount of methamphetamines in her system, a court heard.

Katrina Marie Adams, 51, was on meth and amphetamines when other motorists witnessed her speeding, swerving between lanes, going off the road, and at one point, connecting with a guard rail, causing sparks to fly before the severe crash, crown prosecutor Ryan Godfrey told the Rockhampton District Court.

He said the amount of meth in the defendant’s blood was almost double what is found in overdose deaths – Adams was 0.94 milligrams per one litre of blood and deaths attributed to the illicit substance are usually found with 0.5 milligrams or more.

Mr Godfrey said most traffic cases see meth levels between 0.1 and 0.2.

He said the “radically” and “significantly reckless” driving behaviour was witnessed for about 20kms, or 15-20 minutes in the 100km/hr zone, before her Ford Falcon crashed head-on into a Toyota LandCruiser on Peak Downs Mine Road, Winchester, about 6.15pm on June 16, 2021.

Mr Godfrey said the victim had left his workplace – Saraji Mine near Dysart – after his shift and was driving south on the road while Adams was travelling north.

He said Adams had swerved into the victim’s lane and“he simply saw a set of headlights”.

“He was unable to move due to the traffic around him… he could not swerve to the left as there was a tree, and to the right, there was oncoming traffic,” Mr Godfrey said.

“At the last second, he saw a gap in the oncoming traffic and tried to swerve to the right to avoid the collision, but it was at that stage the defendant’s car hit his.”

He said the lead up to the crash was captured on a mobile in one of the nearby cars.

Both the victim’s and the defendant’s cars were “catastrophically damaged”, with evidence showing bald front tyres on her vehicle.

Mr Godfrey said there was clip seal bags, scales and 0.3 grams of meth in Adams’ vehicle and 0.2 grams of meth found on her at Moranbah Hospital.

He said the victim sustained a chance fracture to his L2, causing nerve damage, neurological injury and bruising along his spine. He also suffered abrasions and bruises to his left leg, torso and face.

Mr Godfrey said Adams suffered significant injuries and could not be interviewed at the time.

Defence barrister Sheridan Shaw said her client had “ongoing issue with drugs” and was “forced to abstain due to the injuries she sustained”, but no evidence was before the court.

Judge Jeff Clarke questioned if there was medical evidence to support the various instructions Adams had given to her lawyers in the lead up to this part-heard sentence about waiting for “life-saving” surgery.

He said the previous instructions in March 2023 were “the internal injuries were extensive and that she will die if she is not operated on and in the event that she does have an operation, she has a 40 per cent chance of dying during surgery”.

Judge Clarke said the only documents provided to the court at this stage only talked about elective surgery on her shoulder for a repair of a right lung hernia, not a chest wall reconstruction, as the court was told previously.

He adjourned the sentence part-heard to consider how much time in actual custody Adams is to serve for the one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing grievous bodily harm while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance.

Adams has pleaded guilty.

She was remanded in custody with the sentence to recommence on September 15.