David Blaker sentenced for Blakehurst drag race

Emotion erupted in a Sydney courtroom as an Illawarra mechanic was sentenced after he crashed out during an illegal drag race, leaving two innocent young people with life-changing injuries.

A man has been jailed over a drag race gone wrong on the Princes Hwy near Tom Uglys Bridge in Blakehurst. Picture: Google Maps

Emotion erupted in a Sydney courtroom as a Wollongong mechanic who left two young people severely injured in a drag race gone wrong was jailed.

David Blaker, 35, pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm at Downing Centre Local Court after a horrific two-car crash on Tom Ugly’s Bridge in Blakehurst on May 21 last year.

The court heard Blaker, his wife Aleksandra and his brother John Kalen were all stopped at the lights in different vehicles heading towards Sylvania when they accelerated sharply at the green light.

Blaker reached speeds of 115km/h in the 70km/h zone before losing control on a bend, hitting the median strip and going airborne into a car travelling in the opposite direction.

The man and woman inside – both 20 – were left severely injured and both required surgery for perforated bowels while the male also had spinal fractures.

Blaker himself suffered a traumatic brain injury and was also hospitalised for several days.

The lights on the Princes Hwy heading towards Tom Uglys Bridge in Blakehurst. Picture: Google Maps

Magistrate Christine Haskett convicted Blaker and sentenced him to 18 months’ imprisonment with a 12-month non-parole period – prompting an outburst of emotion on both sides of the court.

Blaker’s wife muttered “there’s no justice” as her husband was handcuffed and led into the cells by Corrective Services officers.

A young woman in court to support Blaker then stood up, pointed across the room to the victims and their family members, and loudly said: “Do you remember me?”

Sheriffs and the NSW Police officer in charge of the case had to separate the two groups as curse-laden insults flew in both directions, before one victim’s family member burst into tears.

“This has changed our lives forever, you stupid moll,” she said tearfully.

Incredibly, the court heard Blaker had just one traffic offence on his record – a ticket for speeding less than 10km/h over the limit – before the fateful decision to embark on the drag race.

Where the road curves on the Princes Hwy heading towards the bridge. Picture: Google Maps

In sentencing, Ms Haskett said drivers had to be deterred from driving dangerously through sentences imposed on those who do.

“Two blameless victims have suffered life-altering injuries,” Ms Haskett said.

“The offender suffered serious injuries himself – he was in the ICU for an extended period with a skull fracture, bleeding on the brain and hearing loss.”

The court heard Blaker and the two victims continue to suffer trauma from the crash, with the male victim still unable to return to work and the female victim suffering a 30cm scar on her stomach.

“This is going to be something they deal with for the rest of their lives,” Ms Haskett said.

“It is my view he would not be appropriately punished if he were to serve his sentence by an intensive corrections order.”

Blaker sought bail to appeal his sentence in the District Court but it was refused.

His appeal against his sentence’s severity will proceed on January 19 next year and he will remain in custody in the meantime.

His wife Aleksandra pleaded guilty to exceeding the speed limit by more than 10km/h in relation to the incident and was sentenced to a six-month conditional release order without conviction on June 23.

Blaker’s brother Kalen has indicated a plea of guilty to driving recklessly, furiously or dangerously and his matter will next be mentioned at Downing Centre Local Court on October 27.