NSW’s worst driver Peter Crane jailed for six years after killing passenger

The extensive criminal record of a disqualified driver has been revealed as the man was jailed for killing his passenger while high on ice. See his appalling driving record here.

Disqualified driver Peter Crane has been jailed.

A disqualified driver caught breaking the road rules 21 times in the past two decades has been jailed for more than six years after killing his passenger while high on ice.

The night Peter Crane crashed and killed his passenger Bonnie Berrell, the ice levels in his system were so high doctors say he could have died.

His appalling driving record was tendered to the NSW District Court last week.

Since 1998, Crane has been caught drink driving three times, drug driving once, speeding a whopping 14 times and driving while disqualified on two occasions.

His licence had been suspended when he got behind the wheel on January 18, 2022 with his friend Bonnie Berrell. He was driving them to Sydney from Mudgee along the Great Western Highway when he collided with a concrete barrier at excessive speeds.

Passenger Bonnie Berrell was killed in the crash.

It was signposted 60km/h zone, but Crane had reached speeds of 114km/h, according to data downloaded from his Toyota Echo.

Ms Berrell was seriously injured when police arrived, and was drifting in and out of consciousness. Crane was also disoriented and barely maintaining consciousness - with police believing he was affected by drugs.

Their suspicions were confirmed when they found a sharps box containing used syringes and empty small clear resealable plastic bags about seven metres from the wreckage - and a pack of syringes, plastic spoon, and small empty resealable bags inside the car.

Ms Berrell was rushed to Liverpool Hospital where she ultimately died due to her injuries. Crane was also taken to hospital with serious injuries, where he admitted to police his blood would be “dirty” upon mandatory testing.

In the days following he was charged with negligent driving occasioning death and drive motor vehicle with illicit drugs present in blood.

The court heard that following the horror crash, Crane’s blood level of ice was “well into the reported toxic range and potentially fatal range, and is highly suggestive of recent use of the drug most likely within 12 hours of the blood sample”.

An addict for many years, Crane admitted to using half a gram of ice every day in the lead up to the crash. However, on the day it happened, he increased his intake and injected between two and three points of ice.

Despite hearing Crane had long struggled with mental health issues and substance abuse, Judge Robert Montgomery rejected the defence calls for leniency, saying his driving record proved he was dismissive of the law.

“The record shows his participation in a lifestyle of driving whilst intoxicated, habitual intoxication and a disregard for the law,” he said.

“That he was repeatedly dealt with by way of bonds, Community Corrections Orders and one Periodic Detention Order, in my view, disentitles him to leniency of sentencing in relation to the subject serious offending.”

Montgomery did however acknowledge the genuine remorse he has shown for the crash which claimed his friend, Ms Berrell’s life.

He was sentenced to six years and six months jail for the crash, with a non-parole period of four years and six months. His licence was also disqualified for three years following his release, and ordered to complete the Traffic Offenders Intervention Program.