James Hoare: Drunk driver jailed for losing control of his car after crashing in Marulan

A man has been jailed after he drove 100km/h above the speed limit in a roadworks zone while drunk before crashing and rolling his car five times.

James Hoare pleaded guilty to preventing a sample being taken and driving a vehicle without proper control. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A man has been jailed after he drove 100km/h above the speed limit while drunk and crashed his car, rolling over five times.

James Hoare, 35, pleaded guilty to preventing a sample being taken and driving a vehicle without proper control.

He was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court to 12 months in prison with a non-parole period of eight months.

Agreed facts said police received a call about 9.30am on November 15 last year when other drivers noticed a Holden ute speeding northbound on the Hume Hwy near Marulan.

Police were told a car had crashed in a roadworks area, where the signposted limit was 60km/h, with one witnesses estimating the driver was travelling about 180km/h.

Hoare was jailed for at least eight months.

Hoare had lost control of his car when he entered a gravel section of the road before he hit an embankment causing his car to roll several times before coming to a stop.

Hoare was able to get out of the car and organise his own tow truck before admitting to the driver he had consumed several schooners before getting behind the wheel.

Officers conducted a roadside breath test on Hoare who returned a positive reading of 0.210 and he was arrested.

Officers believed Hoare was significantly intoxicated due to his glassy eyes, slurred speech and strong intoxicating smell of liquor.

He was taken to Goulburn Hospital after he complained of lower back pain where he refused to provide a mandatory blood sample despite being told it was an offence to decline.

A hospital discharge document confirmed Hoare said he had been driving about 160km/h in the construction zone before he rolled his car.

The court heard Hoare had a terrible traffic record including high range drinking driving convictions in 2009 and 2016, along with speeding and driving while unlicensed offences.

Magistrate Philip Stewart said he also had a criminal record for other matters where he had served periods of imprisonment.

Hoare’s lawyer told the court his client was the legal carer for his father but Mr Stewart noted Hoare travelled across the state for work and spent time away from his parents.

The court heard Hoare drank about four beers, rested for four hours, drank water and felt fine to drive however Mr Stewart said Hoare likely had a “substantial amount of alcohol in his system”.

The court also heard Hoare denied he had a drinking problem but his mother, who was supporting him in court, said he did.

Mr Stewart noted Hoare had started attending a drug and alcohol program this month and only made an inquiry on Thursday to start full-time residential rehabilitation.

Mr Stewart also said Hoare had some insight into the offence, acknowledging someone could have been killed but noted no one was around at the time of the crash.

“You have demonstrated you are a danger and menace to the community,” he said.

Mr Stewart said Hoare’s drink driving history and ongoing alcohol problem put the community at risk.

Hoare will be eligible for parole later this year, was fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for three years.