Goonellabah P-plater Polo Baker disqualified from driving after drugs detected in system following crash into tree

A Goonellabah P-plater told police he experienced a “microsleep” before his Mitsubishi slammed into a tree. But police detected a range of illicit drugs in his body.

Polo Baker outside Lismore Local Court.

A Goonellabah P-plater has been disqualified from driving after he wrapped his car around a tree with a passenger onboard and methamphetamines, MDMA and cannabis in his system.

Polo Baker, 19, appeared at Lismore Local Court on Monday pleading guilty to driving with the three illicit drugs present in his saliva.

Baker was driving with a passenger in a Mitsubishi Lancer to his home from Wollongbar on the Bruxner Hwy about 11.50am on November 13 last year.

He was approaching Lindendale at about 80kmh when his car veered off the road and struck a tree, according to court documents.

The scene of the Bruxner Hwy crash.

Police and paramedics arrived and found the “rear end (of the car) just off the side of the road and the front end wrapped around a tree”.

Baker and his passenger walked away from the crash, which totalled the $14,500 Mitsubishi.

Baker told police that he was driving around the bend and had a “microsleep”, resulting in the crash, the documents state.

Baker tested positive to cannabis and methamphetamines on a roadside drug test.

He was arrested and taken to Lismore Police Station.

Further analysis of Baker’s saliva revealed he had three illicit drugs in his system: MDMA, methamphetamines and cannabis.

Magistrate Michael Dakin asked Baker in court if he had a drug problem.

Polo Baker outside Lismore Local Court.

Baker, who was self represented, said he had only smoked a joint the day before the crash and did not take anything else.

Mr Dakin told Baker there was no way to tell what was in the substances he was taking.

Mr Dakin said the offending was serious and Baker would have been in a lot more trouble if he had injured or killed a passenger.

Baker said the crash was a “pretty traumatic experience”.

Mr Dakin fined Baker $500 and disqualified his licence for six months.

Baker can reapply for a licence on September 17, 2023.