Daniel Dragicevich: HTL Property director sentenced over high range drink driving

Just hours after a high-flying hotel group director crashed his Mercedes into a property while severely drunk, he was due to be the best man at his mate’s wedding – but he never got there.

A top figure in Australia’s hotel industry missed his best friend’s wedding after he was caught high-range drink driving and crashed his airborne Mercedes into a property, destroying a shed and fence.

HTL Property national director Daniel Dragicevich was told at Waverley Local Court his actions could have seen him swap his successful role for full-time custody.

Magistrate Ross Hudson said the bride and groom have not spoken to 37-year-old Dragicevich since the incident on March 12, which happened just hours before he was meant to be the best man at a wedding he did not attend.

Magistrate Ross Hudson said Dragicevich was riddled with anxiety as he tried to write his best man speech on the eve of a wedding in the NSW town of Mudgee.

“The best friend was shocked when he didn’t turn up in the service and (his lawyer) tells me he didn’t attend the ceremony because of this incident,” Magistrate Hudson.

“In terms of these matters, that has been a constant reminder in letting someone down”.

According to agreed facts, Dragicevich had an argument with his partner about 2:30am on the day of the wedding when he decided to get into his silver Mercedes AMG and drive away from the Airbnb. He was soon seen by police holding his phone while at the wheel.

Daniel Dragicevich has been sentenced for high range drink driving

Police followed Dragicevich and put on their lights in an attempt to stop him, but he “accelerated harshly and sped away” so fast police couldn’t note his registration plates.

Officers turned off their lights and pulled over at the corner of Lewis and Horario streets. A short time later they saw dust in the air some 700m away.

They drove up and realised Dragicevich had failed a right hand turn on the corner of Burrundulla Rd and Sydney Rd.

“The vehicle became airborne, landing about five metres from the guttering, then crashing into a storage shed and the rear of a residential house, causing extensive damage to the large shed and fence,” the facts read.

When paramedics arrived and took Dragicevich out of the car, he had a broken nose and possible fractures to his eye socket and wrist. He was taken to Mudgee Hospital, where it became “evident he was not wearing a seat belt as he had no marks on chest indicating (a belt)”.

His details were given to the church that owns the storage shed and the homeowner of the fence and shed he destroyed. The court heard he has since repaid them money for the damage caused.

Blood results returned 0.180 grams of alcohol in 100mm of blood – more than 3.5 times above the legal limit.

Waverley Court heard Dragicevich struggled with alcohol addiction. Picture: Damian Shaw

On April 20, the Coogee man went to Randwick Police Station and admitted to drinking “several alcoholic beverages” but he doesn’t remember crashing into a shed and fence.

Formerly Ray White Hotels, HTL Property delivers integrated services for the hotel industry and its investors all over Australia.

According to the HTL Property website, Dragicevich is responsible for the Australian pub agency business line.

“Daniel is responsible for general agency practice, advocacy and consultancy specialising in the Hotel and Leisure market, dealing with local and national pub and hotel operators across all mainland markets,” the website reads.

“Throughout his career, Daniel has handled the successful sale of hotels to the value of over $550 million throughout the country”.

The court heard Dragicevich’s rise to the top of the commercial property was quick.

Once he got there, he became overwhelmed with looking after his family and employees and began drinking every day to unwind.

The court heard Dragicevich grew up in New Zealand and moved to Australia at the age of 12, when he had a hard transition into high-school. His parents separated in 2006 and his father moved on quickly. He has since developed anxiety and substance abuse disorder and takes antidepressant medication, the court was told.

Dragicevich was given a jail sentence to be served in the community. Picture: Damian Shaw

The court heard since Dragicevich’s arrest he has engaged in Alcoholics Anonymous, among many other steps to get sober and treat both his mental health issues and alcohol addiction. It heard he also volunteers with the Salvation Army and young people.

Magistrate Hudson said the crimes, combined with the fact it was not Dragicevich’s first drink driving offence, warranted a full-time custodial sentence but chose to order him to serve it in the community by way of an 11-month intensive corrections order (ICO) due to his efforts of recovery.

“No one goes out deliberately in motor vehicle to hurt people but that level of alcohol, combined with speed and erratic driving leads to serious accidents,” he said.

“Get on top of it now. You’ve started a process of acknowledgment and treatment. If that weren’t the case it would be easy for this court to say ‘we’ve had enough’.”

Lawyer Paul McGirr said: “My client left the house he was staying at due to a heated situation that was occurring at the house between some house guests. My client was not driving for convenience but rather to escape a volatile situation. He was using his mobile map to look for alternate accommodation as he wasn’t familiar with the Mudgee area.”

Dragicevich pleaded guilty to and was convicted of high-range drink driving and driving while using a mobile phone. Dragicevich’s licence was disqualified for 10 months, with a mandatory interlock for 48 months, and he was fined $550.