Ebor Miswhy Smith jailed for 124km/h crash on Mill Drive which seriously injured man

A Townsville father who caused “life-changing” injuries to a motorist after crashing into him at 124km/h had been caught speeding four times before the crash.

A Townsville father who caused “life-changing” injuries to a motorist when he collided with him at 124km/h had been caught speeding multiple times before the crash.

Ebor Miswhy Smith, 26, was driving at twice the speed limit along Mill Drive when he made the “dangerous” decision to cross the centre line in an attempt to overtake a car.

Instead, he collided with a man driving in the opposite direction at 124km/h.

Smith pleaded guilty in Townsville District Court to a charge of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing grievous bodily harm while excessively speeding.

Three cars, including the Holden Commodore driven by Smith, the injured man’s Holden Rodeo ute, and a Mitsubishi Challenger were written off because of the crash.

Ebor Miswhy Smith leaving the Townsville court precinct after a separate offence.

Crown prosecutor Shannon Sutherland said the man in the Holden Rodeo had to be extricated from his car by firefighters and had “limited” memory of the crash.

The man was left with a traumatic brain injury, suffered fractures to his femur, collarbone, some vertebrae, and dislocated three fingers.

The court heard that the man was hospitalised for four months, still needed assistance to walk, and that 18 months after the crash, he suffered complications to his femur.

After the crash, Smith recorded a blood-alcohol content of .084, and cannabis was found in his system – but was not charged over those aggravating features.

Ms Sutherland told Judge Gregory Lynham that in the 12 months before the crash, Smith had been to court four times for speeding offences.

The last was just weeks before the crash on Mill Drive.

Defence barrister Kelly Stone said Smith had fractured his own femur in the crash, had since stopped drinking, was remorseful, and felt “guilt” for his actions.

Mr Stone said that on the day of the crash, Smith had argued with his girlfriend and began “drinking heavily” before driving to help a family matter.

Judge Lynham acknowledged Smith’s remorse but said he had made the “deliberate and contemptuous” decision to endanger motorists.

He ordered Smith to serve three and a half years jail.

He will be released on parole on November 7, 2023 and will be banned from driving for two years.

Originally published as Ebor Miswhy Smith jailed for 124km/h crash on Mill Drive which seriously injured man