Samuel Phillips sentenced in Coffs court over drink-drive highway crash

A club operator has avoided jail time after he returned a reading nearly five times over the limit following a ‘head-on’ collision near the Big Banana.

A Coffs Harbour man who was driving almost five times the legal alcohol limit when he was involved in a head-on collision near the Big Banana has avoided jail time.

Samuel Colin Phillips, 35, appeared in Coffs Harbour Local Court on Monday for sentencing on charges of High Range PCA and driving in a speed/manner dangerous in relation to the March 20 incident.

Magistrate Michael Dakin said the serious accident left a second driver, who was travelling in a southbound lane on the Pacific Highway, with a fractured sternum and foot after Phillips’ vehicle collided head-on with his.

Phillips, who was travelling north at around 70km in the 60km zone, had hit a median strip before spinning into oncoming traffic when he collided with the car, it was heard.

The incident took place at a notorious “slow sweeping” bend near the Big Banana and the Diggers Beach Road turn-off.

The vehicles were left extensively damaged and firefighters and ambulance attended the scene.

The man was sentenced at Coffs Harbour Local Court this week.

Phillips sustained minor injuries and was taken to hospital where a blood sample returned a positive reading of .249, the court heard.

Magistrate Dakin said the driver of the second vehicle had continued to suffer pain and returned to the hospital days after the crash, where they were diagnosed with the fractured bones.

Phillips’ lawyer told the court his client is involved in the operation of local licenced premises, including the Coffs Hotel and Winkxx nightclub, and that he has “turned a corner” and undertaken significant rehabilitation since the accident.

They said he otherwise had a limited history with an “unblemished” record, and a low risk of reoffending.

The magistrate took these factors into account but said the matter was too serious not to impose a custodial sentence.

Phillips was convicted and sentenced to a 9-month Intensive Corrections Order, which is a custodial sentence that is served in the community under supervision. He was given 100 hours of community service.

He was also sentenced to a Community Corrections Order for two years, and disqualified from driving for 12 months.