Griffin man fined and disqualified from driving after failing to supply blood sample for testing

A 28-year-old man who smashed his car into a tree then refused to supply a blood sample has been blasted by a magistrate who warned him: “You could have easily injured or worse killed another road user”.

A 28-year-old Griffin man has been dealt a hefty fine for failing to supply a blood sample after crashing his car into a tree.

Ryan Wayne Burbidge told Redcliffe Magistrates Court yesterday that he had not been in a good place mentally.

The matter was meant to be dealt with next month but Burbidge had asked for it to be brought forward so he could cop the penalty, move on and hopefully keep his job as a service technician for Coca-Cola Amatil.

“I’ve been using the gym and driving my car as a way to deal with these issues and it had been working for me,” Burbidge, who represented himself in court, said.

“Once COVID-19 hit and took away the gym and driving with my family I started to find another way to cope and I turned to a bit of drinking and what not to help escape.”

On May 30, 2020, Burbidge said he had been having a few drinks in his garage when he received a “devastating” call from his father informing him his grandfather was only likely to live for six more months.

Ryan Wayne Burbidge was fined $1000 for failing to supply a blood sample to police for analysis after crashing his car. Photo: FACEBOOK

“It affected me greatly and I wasn’t making the right decisions and I wanted to go for a drive to clear my head and unfortunately I put my car into a tree,” he said.

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Redcliffe Police Prosecutor Sergeant David Pollock said when police arrived at the crash at Coriander Drive, Griffin, at about 11.30pm they found Burbidge in the back of an ambulance.

Sgt Pollock said police believed the man to be intoxicated.

“The defendant stated he did not wish to supply a blood sample as he would be way too intoxicated and that if he waited his reading might be lower,” Sgt Pollock said.

Burbidge then failed to supply a breath sample.

Later at the hospital he continued to refuse to supply a blood sample for analysis.

As a result he was charged and issued with a notice to appear.

Burbidge said in hindsight it was not the best decision.

“To be quite honest I was still in shock with what had happened, it was quite a large hit,” he said.

“I’ve written my car off, it was a $35,000 car which I owned and had a lot of pride in, so I’ve already taken a financial hit there.

“When I got to the hospital I wasn't in the right state of mind and didn’t know what to do. I thought I was making the right decision but looking back on it now it probably wasn’t.”

Burbidge said he was remorseful.

“It is not like I go to the pub and know I’m going to drive home after drinking,” he said.

“It was an average night that ended worse.”

Magistrate Bucknall said the circumstances were “alarming”.

“You were involved in a single vehicle accident, wrote your car off, you had injuries and could have easily injured or worse killed another road user,” Magistrate Bucknall said.

Burbidge had just one other traffic offence against his name, a charge for speeding less than 13km/h over the limit.

Magistrate Bucknall issued a $1000 fine and disqualified Burbidge from driving for six months.