Budgewoi: Roger Ian Richardson admits to dangerous driving crash that left passenger with shattered spine
A driver who had been drinking and smoking cannabis has admitted to “showing off” when he lost control of his Ford XR6 and ploughed into another car, ejecting one of his passengers.
Central Coast
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A Queensland man has pleaded guilty to dangerous diving after ploughing into another car and sending one of his passengers flying from the wreckage.
Roger Ian Richardson, of Ipswich in Queensland, faced Hornsby Local Court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm.
An agreed set of facts states the 53-year-old had no real fixed abode and was living with his partner in her van in a beachside car park at Budgewoi when he went for a drive with two passengers, aged 47 and 48.
About 6.45pm on Friday, April 18, Richardson was driving his white Ford Falcon XR6 north along Budgewoi Rd when he lost control as he went round a sweeping right hand bend past Lakes Surf Life Saving Club.
His male passenger, 48, seated in the front would later tell police Richardson was “showing off” and they had been drinking alcohol throughout the day.
Independent witnesses said the “white car was flying, driving really fast” and “he would have had to be going 140km/h plus, he was absolutely flying”.
Richardson lost control on the left shoulder of the road before overcorrecting and went into a sliding spin before crossing onto the wrong side of the road and into the path of a bronze coloured Ford Falcon.
“The front of the bronze Ford Falcon struck the rear passenger side of the white Ford Falcon as it was sliding across its path,” the facts state.
“The collision caused the white Ford Falcon to continue its clockwise rotation and crash heavily into a tree located on the eastern shoulder of Budgewoi Rd.
“During the collision sequence, (Richardson’s passenger) was ejected from the rear seat and landed at the front of the white Ford Falcon.”
She was not wearing a seatbelt.
Richardson was found slumped over the steering wheel.
“When the accused regained consciousness he was able to exit the vehicle but was displaying clear signs of being impaired by either drugs or alcohol,” the facts state.
Witnesses said he was hostile, unable to follow directions and had difficulty walking or holding his balance.
Emergency services arrived and all three occupants of his car and the other driver were taken to hospital,
Richardson’s female passenger was treated for multiple injuries including a nasal fracture, scapula fracture, multiple spinal fractures, pelvic fractures, fluid accumulation around her pelvis and abdomen and a significant leg wound.
His male passenger was treated for broken ribs.
The other driver, a woman, 64, suffered a fractured ankle, fractured sternum, fractured ribs and spinal fractures.
Richardson was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital where he underwent mandatory blood tests with the facts stating police were awaiting the results with further charges pending.
The Hunter Crash Investigation Unit attended and established Richardson was travelling an estimated 150km/h and none of the occupants in his car were wearing seatbelts.
“The accused participated in an electronically recorded interview where he stated he had consumed three Extra Dry beers, two cans of Jack Daniels double strength and cola and one can of Jim Beam and cola,” the facts state.
“The accused also stated he has smoked cannabis prior to the collision.”
Richardson told police he couldn’t recall the crash but admitted to being the driver.
On Tuesday police sought an adjournment to get further medical reports on the two injured women and charged Richardson with a second count of dangerous driving occasioning the grievous bodily harm of the other driver.
He is yet to enter a plea to that charge and will face court again on July 15.
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