Father faces court over drug driving, speaks of losing 3 yo in Coolum crash

A Coolum father whose three-year-old boy died in a horror car smash teared up as he spoke of the tragedy and his cancer battle while facing court for drug driving.

Bernal Esquivel Carrillo’s three-year-old son died following a serious crash on the Sunshine Motorway at Coolum Beach last year.

A man whose three year old son was killed in a horror head on crash at a notorious Coolum roundabout has faced court on drug driving charges while on a probational licence.

Bernal Esquivel Carrillo pleaded guilty at Noosa Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday for having a relevant drug present in his saliva while driving on a probationary licence.

Police prosecutor Alison Johnstone said Carrillo was intercepted at 10.10am on Thursday November 10, 2022 and tested positive to cannabidiol and methamphetamines.

Sergeant Johnstone told the court the defendant had been before the court for a similar offence eight months earlier on May 30, 2022.

Self represented, Carrillo said he had asked for an adjournment two weeks ago to seek advice from his doctor.

“I went to my doctor and asked him if there was any medication he was giving me that shows like that,” Carrillo said.

“I don’t use methamphetamine.

“I do use cannabis.”

Carrillo informed the court he had enrolled in a medical cannabis program to treat terminal cancer and had been in remission for one and a half years.

Bernal Esquivel Carrillo at Noosa Magistrates Court on Tuesday, 24 January, 2023.

“I bought cannabis on the streets and that’s what happened to me last time,” he said.

Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist remarked on the dangers associated with buying street cannabis.

“You’d know better than me,” Mr Stjernqvist said.

“But anecdotally I am often informed that it’s a bit hazardous buying cannabis because it’s often mixed up with methamphetamine.”

Carrillo teared up as he told Mr Stjernqvist there had been a fatality in his family last year and he was in the process of separating from his wife.

“My little boy of three years old passed away in a car crash,” he said.

“My ex brother in law was driving the car,” Carrillo alleged in court.

Carrillo further alleged in court that “he didn’t put him in a baby seat”.

Mr Stjernqvist acknowledged the tragedy took place “at the big roundabout just south of Coolum”.

“Yes sir, before that I went to Costa Rica with my family, with my ex wife and kids,” Carrillo said.

“Over there I got diagnosed with terminal cancer.

“I stayed there trying to recover.”

Carrillo said it was his fault and he “should not have been driving that day”.

He was given a $300 fine. His licence was suspended for three months.