Tingalpa man Ferenc Farkas jailed for fatal drink-drive crash

A Brisbane man will spend six months in jail after a catalyst decision saw him kill his wife of 30 years.

Ferenc Farkas, 61, outside the Brisbane District Court on Tuesday, March 21.

The devastated family of Brisbane man Ferenc Farkas, who accidentally killed his wife of 30 years when he drink-drove into a tree, wiped tears from their eyes in a courtroom today as they said goodbye to their loved one for six months.

The 61-year-old had previously been on bail but faced sentence for a count each of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death while adversely affected by alcohol and driving under the influence of liquor in Brisbane District Court on Tuesday, March 21.

Crown prosecutor Alex Baker said Mr Farkas had a blood-alcohol level of 0.197 per cent on the afternoon of October 9, 2021 – and was just 500 metres from his home in Tingalpa – when he failed to navigate an intersection and struck a tree, the crash leaving his wife Donna Farkas with critical injuries.

The pair had been drinking alcohol together for about two hours when they decided to head to a service station to buy cigarettes.

Mr Farkas drove the SUV “dangerously”, speeding and travelling over traffic islands, while Mrs Farkas sat in the front passenger seat.

People who witnessed the crash pulled Mr Farkas’ unconscious wife from the car and laid her on the grass, but it was already too late. She had suffered “catastrophic internal injuries” and died a short time after being taken to hospital.

Mr Farkas suffered non-life-threatening injuries including fractures to his leg, wrist, collarbone, and ribs.

Ms Baker told the court Mr Farkas had been inconsistent with his version of events since the day of the crash, originally telling witnesses at the scene that he “blacked out” and later telling police he accidentally stepped on the SUV’s accelerator instead of the brake.

Defence barrister Matt Jackson said his client’s comment about ‘blacking out’ was provided in response to a witness’ question: “Did you black out?”

“I think I did,” the court heard Mr Farkas replied, in effect.

Ms Baker said the 61-year-old’s driving was “deliberately reckless” and his actions were “selfish”.

The Brisbane District Court.

Judge Nicole Kefford said she struggled to accept that all of Mr Farkas’ actions were deliberate, given his level of intoxication.

The prosecution clarified it believed the “tragic” case was not completely and suddenly out of Mr Farkas’ control.

“I acknowledge ... that he has killed his own wife will undoubtedly weigh on this man’s conscience for the rest of his days,” Ms Baker said.

Mr Farkas’ lawyer Mr Jackson said his client’s “high” blood-alcohol level explained but did not excuse his decision to drive while intoxicated, describing his level of regret and remorse as “unquantifiable”.

“There can be no doubt that in the last 18 months he has been severely punished and … (there is) no doubt that he will remain mentally scarred for the rest of his life,” he said.

The court heard Mr Farkas lived alone, worked, and relied almost exclusively on the support of his sister and brother-in-law following the devastating incident.

He and his wife had no children and spent their free time travelling and walking their dog, who sadly died in the week before he was sentenced.

The court heard Mr Farkas had not had “a sip of alcohol” since the crash.

Judge Nicole Kefford acknowledged Mr Farkas was now a “broken man”, suffering raw and deep grief, but also that he made the conscious decision to get behind the wheel of a car while “grossly” intoxicated.

Mr Farkas was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment to be suspended after serving six months for dangerously operating a car while affected by alcohol, causing his wife’s death. A conviction was recorded.

He was also disqualified from driving for 18 months on that charge and for six months on the summary charge of driving under the influence.