Suspended P-plater Kyle Richardson was on drugs before horror M1 crash
A suspended P-plater slammed into a rock wall on the M1 at Mooney Mooney so hard that the engine ripped from his car and flew across three lanes.
Central Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Central Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A suspended P-plater will be sentenced next month after crashing into a rock wall on the M1 at Mooney Mooney so hard it ripped the engine out and sent it flying across three lanes, a court has heard.
Kyle Richardson, of Canton Beach, pleaded guilty in Gosford Local Court to driving while suspended and aggravated dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm to his 18-year-old female passenger while he was under the influence of drugs.
Charge sheets state the 20-year-old was “very substantially impaired” by MDMA and cocaine when he lost control of a blue Volkswagen hatchback and crashed on the M1 at Mooney Mooney at 9.40am on May 4, 2020.
An agreed set of facts states multiple witnesses saw Richardson driving “erratically and at an excessive speed” south on the M1 as he swerved in and out of traffic and overtook one woman in the breakdown lane.
“Also of significance is the fact the accused was aware that his driver’s licence was suspended at the time of the collision however still made the decision to drive,” the facts state.
“The accused travelled at extreme speeds, at one point over 150km/h in a 90km/h (zone) that placed a real and significant risk to other road users.
“The accused drove in a dangerous manner for a prolonged period of time before reaching Mooney Mooney where he caused a significant collision resulting in serious injuries to (his passenger).”
One motorist was so concerned about his manner of driving she called police.
About 10km from the crash site another witness said Richardson passed him “like a rocket” swerving between vehicles and “to the point of almost impacting other vehicles.”
He passed another witness about 5km from the crash site who later came across the scene and rendered assistance to Richardson’s female passenger, who was trapped in the wreckage.
“During this time the accused stated to the witness ‘I came around the bend and cause I was going fast my car got the wobbles and I hit the wall and landed over there’,” the facts state.
The force of the “catastrophic” collision caused the car to ricochet back onto the freeway and the front nearside wheel was “torn from the vehicle” and was located south of the scene.
“The engine of the vehicle was also torn from the supports and travelled across three lanes of traffic before coming to rest on the western shoulder,” the facts state.
“The vehicle continued in an uncontrolled manner before coming to rest within lane three facing a northerly direction.”
“The total distance from the point the accused allows his vehicle to enter the eastern shoulder to its final resting position is approximately 155m.”
The victim was trapped with serious leg and internal injuries before she was freed and rushed to Royal North Shore where she underwent emergency surgery.
Richardson was taken to Gosford Hospital for mandatory blood tests before participating in a recorded interview.
He told police he “just lost control and hit the brick wall” and denied he was speeding or driving dangerously.
“The accused was shown dash camera footage which shows his vehicle pass a number of vehicles at an excessively high speed before swerving across three lanes of traffic between vehicles,” the facts state.
“The accused disagreed he was travelling at an excessive speed.”
As a result the victim suffered femur fractures to both legs, and ankle fractures, which required multiple surgeries.
“The threat the accused posed to other road users was real and to the extreme level for a significant period leading up to and including the time of collision,” the facts state.
Richardson will face Gosford District Court on September 23 to set a date to be sentenced.
New charges: Former life coach denies assaulting teen girls
A former “life coach” has denied sexually and indecently assaulting young teenage girls. It comes as two new victims have come forward prompting further charges, a court has heard.
Read more
Trial date set for truckie involved in fatal crash
A truck driver will face trial almost two years to the day after he was involved in a crash which killed a 17-year-old P-plater and seriously injured a woman, 46.
Read more