Truckie high on ice at time of horrific Bulli Pass crash has jail time reduced
A Liverpool truck driver who admitted to being high on ice at the time of a fiery crash at Bulli Pass, will be released from prison earlier than expected, after a judge agreed to reduce his sentence.
Illawarra Star
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A Liverpool truck driver who admitted to being high on ice at the time of a horrific crash at Bulli Pass has had his jail time reduced.
Minh Thien Ho appealed his nine-month non-parole period at Wollongong District Court after spending 50 days in jail following the fiery crash.
After hearing Ho wanted to address his “meth problem”, Judge Geoffrey Graham agreed to slightly reduce the 31-year-old’s non-parole period from nine to seven months.
Ho was sent to Wellington Correctional Centre by Magistrate Michael Stoddart on October 11, after pleading guilty to negligent driving and driving under the influence of illicit drugs.
The truckie was at the wheel of the SAS Freightliner truck involved in the infamous Bulli Pass crash on March 25, which created a scene of carnage, and closed down the major commuter road overnight.
At the time of the incident, Ho, who was lucky to escape without serious injury, told police the crash was caused by failing brakes.
Court documents said Ho was travelling down Bulli Pass at a speed of 20km per hour, when his brake warning lights activated on his dashboard.
Ho said he tried to find a suitable place to park, but the majority of his brakes had failed, triggering the chaotic chain of events.
As Ho tried to swerve away from a vehicle travelling in front of him, he hit several power poles and a parked car. The truck then collided heavily with a concrete barrier in the middle of the road, and became airborne, separating the trailer from the vehicle.
The truck landed on its side and Ho was able to crawl out, before the vehicle burst into flames.
As the truck flipped the barrier, a male driver travelling in the opposite direction slammed on his brakes and quickly reversed to avoid a collision with the truck, a move police at the time said saved his life.
Ho was taken to Wollongong Hospital after complaining of a sore arm, where court documents said he underwent a blood sample, which returned a positive reading for methamphetamine.
Court documents said the level of ice detected in Ho’s system was “to the extent that his driving would have been impaired”.
On Friday, Ho’s Legal Aid solicitor Tim McKenzie told Judge Graham his client had “an incentive” to address his drug problem, noting his partner was pregnant with their first child.
He also suggested Ho serve the remainder of his sentence in the community, by way of an intensive corrections order.
“This is the first time he has spent time in custody in his life,” Mr McKenzie said.
“He’s relatively young at 31 years of age, and while your honour may be guarded about prospects of rehabilitation, it is needed.”
In response, The Crown told Judge Graham it was “remarkable” that no one was seriously injured in the horror crash, and that Ho’s driving record “did not assist him”.
“Shortly after this offence he was picked up driving under the influence again,” the Crown solicitor said.
In handing down his decision to reduce Ho’s non-parole period, Judge Graham said he had “no doubt” the last 50 days in custody would have been difficult for the 31-year-old and acknowledged he had taken “full responsibility” for his actions.
After reducing Ho’s non-parole period by two months, Judge Graham ordered he be subject to supervision for the remainder of his 12-month sentence by Community Corrections.
Ho, who will be released from prison on May 10 2020, also had his three year driving ban upheld by Judge Graham.