Nathan John Gay sentenced in Toowoomba District Court for fatal crash that killed Jayson Halpin

Driving at more than 200km/h while almost four times the legal limit, a Toowoomba man has been sentenced for a horror fatal crash that claimed the life of his close friend.

Jayson Halpin.

The “grossly irresponsible” decision to get behind the wheel while almost four times the legal limit caused devastation to more than one family, with a Toowoomba man now forced to face the consequences of his fatal actions.

Nathan John Gay was driving a black Chrysler 300C sedan on the Warrego Highway from Chinchilla about 7pm on November 15, with mates Jayson Halpin and Nicholas McGuire.

The court was told Gay was travelling at speeds of about 200km/h when he collided with the rear end of a white Toyota Landcruiser travelling in the same direction near Bowenville.

The vehicle’s passenger side went under the Landcruiser and tragically Mr Halpin, 50, was killed on impact.

Mr McGuire was flown to Princess Alexandra Hospital with a head injury, while the driver of the Toyota also suffered serious injuries.

Nathan Gay (left) faced Toowoomba District Court on Thursday, November 9 2023 where he was jailed over a fatal crash that killed close friend Jayson Halpin (right).

Gay, 37, faced Toowoomba District Court on Thursday when he was sentenced for his role in the fatal crash that saw his close friend killed in November 2022.

Gay was charged with one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, causing death while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance and while speeding.

The court was told how Gay, who was 36 at the time of offending, had spent 163 days in pre-sentence custody, voluntarily asking the Toowoomba Magistrates Court to revoke his bail in May.

A number of close family and friends of Gay were present in the courtroom during the proceeding, as well as the wife and another family member of Mr Halpin.

Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald told the court Gay’s roadside breath analysis had returned a result of about 0.205 per cent, almost four times the legal limit.

The court heard a forensic speed analysis had been conducted on the vehicle driven by Gay at the time of the offending, showing a speed of 202km/h prior to the collision.

Fatal crash, Warrego Highway, Bowenville, Jayson Halpin, Nathan Gay, November 15, 2022.

Ms Friedewald acknowledged the genuine remorse shown by Gay in revoking his own bail, and the court was read the victim impact statement of Jayson Halpin’s wife Sally.

The grief and loss described in Ms Halpin’s statement cascaded the walls of the courtroom, and were felt by all who were present.

In Mrs Halpin’s statement, she described the heartache in losing her “soul, happiness and future”.

Mr Halpin’s daughter had only just turned 18 recently before the fatal crash, and Mrs Halpin said their three children will now grow up without their father.

Heavily involved in bull riding, Mrs Halpin said her husband “helped cowboys pursue their dreams”.

Defence solicitor Dan Rogers of Robertson O’Gorman Solicitors told the court his client accepted the impact inflicted on the Halpin’s entirely, asking Mr Rogers express to the court his sincere remorse.

Mr Rogers also told the court his client was very quick to enter a plea of guilty, noting the unusual step of asking the court to revoke his bail, a rare request from someone with no previous criminal history.

Fatal crash, Warrego Highway, Bowenville, Jayson Halpin, Nathan Gay, November 15, 2022.

The court was told of the shame and guilt continued to be felt by Gay, whose mother provided a powerful letter to the court describing the irrefutable pain her son has endured and its knock on effect on their family.

A psychological report prepared for the court identified the risk of Gay reoffending was minimal.

Judge Benedict Power KC said the victim impact statement of Ms Halpin was one of the most moving he’s read, justly describing the profound loss felt by the Halpin family.

The lengths taken by Gay to express his remorse, Judge Power said, allowed Mr Halpin’s family the opportunity to know that full responsibility for his had been accepted by Gay.

“It’s almost impossible for a family to forgive the person responsible for the death of somebody who was so loved by so many people,” he said.

“The victim impact statement (of Ms Halpin) is something I think will live in your mind, because you were responsible for the death of your friend.

“You drove in a way that was grossly irresponsible, while you were grossly intoxicated.”

Judge Power acknowledged the impact Gay’s sentencing would have on his family, and specifically on his five-year-old daughter.

“I cannot structure a sentence that fully acknowledges the loss to her of having her father absent, I have to impose a sentence that punishes you,” he said.

Gay was sentenced to seven years imprisonment, with a parole eligibility date of January 30, 2025 and was indefinitely disqualified from driving.

Originally published as Nathan John Gay sentenced in Toowoomba District Court for fatal crash that killed Jayson Halpin