Speedster tried to drag paralysed ‘best friend’ into driver’s seat after horror crash

A disqualified driver who crashed on the M1 while speeding tried to drag his injured mate into the driver’s seat to cover his tracks, before going on the run for almost a year, a court has heard.

A dangerous driver was found almost one year after going on the run.

A disqualified driver who crashed on the Pacific Motorway while speeding tried to drag his badly injured “best friend” into the driver’s seat to cover his tracks, before leaving his paralysed passenger in the wreck and going on the run for almost a year, a court has heard.

The injured passenger was in intensive care for six days, and spent four months in hospital in total. He is now a disability pensioner who predominantly uses a wheelchair.

Steven Anthony Jackson, 31, pleaded guilty to dangerously operating a vehicle causing grievous bodily harm and driving while disqualified, but was released from Brisbane District Court on Tuesday on parole, due to time already served while awaiting sentence.

The court heard that Jackson and his friend drove up from northern NSW into Queensland on October 6, 2022. His friend was an alcohol delivery driver for a transport company and had offered to get Jackson a job doing the same.

They had both been drinking that day, Jackson had drunk at least four bourbon and cola premixed drinks in the four hours before the crash. Police found empties in the wreck.

The court heard Jackson was doing an estimated 80km/h on the Exit 41 off-ramp at Yatala, which is a 60km/h zone, when the van hit the guardrail.

The van’s internal dashcam showed Jackson was weaving in and out of traffic and nearly hit a motorbike rider in the lead up to the crash.

The court heard Jackson and the motorcyclist had an interaction afterwards, with the belief being that Jackson was distracted when he collided with the guardrail.

Judge Terry Gardiner said Jackson’s friend in the passenger seat was not wearing a seatbelt at the time and was propelled forward. He suffered a C4 spinal fracture, paralysis of the right arm and legs, and a vertebral artery dissection.

The court heard Jackson got out of the wreck, and tried to drag his seriously injured and paralysed friend from the passenger side into the driver’s seat.

Judge Gardiner said Jackson then told his passenger “I’ve gotta go” and fled the scene.

Jackson spent the next 11 months and five days on the run before police caught up with him.

The prosecution asked for a three-and-a-half year jail term for Jackson, pointing to his Queensland and NSW traffic history, which included a 2013 licence suspension for dangerous driving, and a drink driving conviction just three months before the crash.

Defence barrister Samuel Bain argued a three-year prison sentence was more appropriate, telling the court that Jackson described his passenger as “his best friend” and that he “feels terrible for what he has done”.

Mr Bain said Jackson was kicked out of home at 13, finished school up to Year 10, lost one of his brothers in a drug-fuelled murder in 2012, and is a father to a 14-year-old girl.

In sentencing, Judge Gardiner referenced part of the crash victim’s statement, in which he said “he is affected everyday by his injuries, including suffering pain and depression”.

Judge Gardiner pointed to the fact that Jackson was disqualified from driving at the time of the offence, and he had “an unenviable history”.

Jackson was sentenced to three years’ jail, but due to time served in pre-sentenced custody, Judge Gardiner fixed his parole release date as Tuesday.

However, Jackson is further disqualified from holding a driver’s licence for four years.