Doyalson: Paul Anthony Collie pleads guilty to drink-driving and manslaughter of David Douglass

A drunk-driver left in a wheelchair with part of his skull caved in has pleaded guilty to killing another motorist in a head-on crash after driving the wrong way on the Pacific Highway for 1.5km.

A man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter after driving 1.5km on the wrong side of the Pacific Highway at night while up to five times over the limit.

Paul Anthony Collie, of Lake Munmorah, faced Wyong Local Court on Tuesday where his Legal Aid solicitor pleaded guilty on his behalf to manslaughter, high range drink-driving and negligent driving.

An agreed set of facts states the now 53-yer-old was captured on CCTV passing the Doylo RSL southbound shortly before 8.30pm on Halloween — October 31 — 2022.

He was driving his white 2000-model Toyota Prado and turned down Wentworth Ave before returning a short time later.

He sat at the intersection with his indicator on for 46 seconds before eventually turning north back onto the Pacific Highway, however, he turned into the southbound lanes which were separated by a median strip.

Paul Anthony Collie, of Lake Munmorah, arriving at Wyong Local Court where he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and high range drink-driving following a fatal crash at Doyalson on Halloween 2022. Picture: NewsLocal

The facts state he drove for about 1.5km in the wrong direction with at least one other motorist flashing his lights and blaring his horn at him before having to swerve out of Collie’s way.

At 8.30pm Collie’s 4WD slammed headfirst into a white Hyundai i30 with such force it sent the sedan spinning clockwise before coming to rest in another lane pointing in the other direction.

Paul Anthony Collie, of Lake Munmorah, leaving Wyong Local Court after pleading guilty to a crash at Doyalson on Halloween 2022 that killed a man, 56. Picture: NewsLocal

The impact sent debris and fluids “spewing across the roadway” from both cars.

Other motorists pulled over and rang triple 0.

Collie was unconscious in his car while the other driver, 56-year-old David Douglass, of Mannering Park, was found with massive injuries.

“The deceased passed away prior to paramedics beginning treatment,” the facts state.

“[A female witness] felt the deceased’s pulse subside while holding him and [another witness] observed Cheyne-Stokes respiration, which she took as an indicator of impending immediate death.

“A search of the offender’s car revealed an empty wine bottle, an open but largely full wine cask and an empty vodka bottle.”

Collie was taken to John Hunter Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery before being transferred to Rankin Park Brain Injury Rehabilitation where he remained until discharge to The Sanctuary disability accommodation at Tingira Heights.

A sample later returned a blood-alcohol reading of 0.227.

However a pharmacologist estimated that at the time of the crash Collie’s reading would have been between 0.259 and 0.306 with a most likely blood alcohol content of 0.274.

Collie’s bail was continued and he will face Gosford District Court on July 4 to fix a sentence date.