Jason Eugene Souter: Gold Coast man jailed for killing woman while driving high on M1 in June 2018
A former Gold Coast labourer high on “a cocktail of drugs”, including ice, killed a Chinese national when he collided with another car on the M1.
Crime and Court
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A FOMER labourer high on “a cocktail of drugs”, including ice, killed a Chinese national when he collided with another car on the M1.
Jason Eugene Souter, 33, did not try to brake and was driving the wrong way on the Pacific Motorway at Pimpama just before 1am on June 2 last year when he killed Tiffany Yu in an horrific crash.
Xin Jin, who was driving the car while Ms Yu was in the back passenger seat, braked heavily trying to avoid Souter.
Souter, high on the drug ice, did not try to stop.
Judge Catherine Muir sentenced Souter to seven and a half years prison.
He will be eligible for parole on March 10, 2022.
Souter was also banned from driving for life.
“You elected to drive when you were in no condition to do so and upon your driving you drove the wrong way on the M1 and that is, in my view, very serious reckless driving,” she said.
Judge Muir slammed his traffic history, which includes two drink driving offences and 13 speeding offences.
“It does reflect someone who shows a reckless attitude towards speed limits and driving under the influence and someone who shows persistent disregard for road rules,” Judge Muir said.
Crown prosecutor Natalie Lima said Ms Jin lost consciousness.
“(When she came to) she could see smoke and dust and called for help and called for (Ms Yu),” Ms Lima said.
“(Ms Yu) sounded in a great deal of pain.”
Paramedics desperately tried to save Ms Yu but she died at the scene due to serious injures to her chest.
Ms Jin was left with broken bones, scratches, bruises and trying to deal with her friend’s death.
“(Ms Yu) was a cherished friend,” Ms Lima said.
“Ms Jin is feeling guilty because she took Ms Yu out that night.”
Ms Yu had lived in Surfers Paradise for about 10 years with her family remaining in China.
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Ms Lima said moments before the crash earlier Souter had swerved to avoid another car as he drove the wrong way down the M1.
He had been driving on the wrong side of the notorious highway for more than a kilometre.
Souter’s barrister Nick McGhee said Souter suffered from depression, anxiety and bipolar.
“He took a cocktail of drugs and alcohol and has no memory of collision or immediate lead up to it,” he said.
Mr McGhee said that cocktail included the drug ice and prescription medication.
The court was told after the crash the Mudgeeraba man did not try to leave the scene or deny being on drugs.
“He said to hospital staff he felt like this was a wake up call and he wanted to turn his life around,” Mr McGhee said.
“He has not used methamphetamine since the incident.”
Mr McGhee said Souter had one son who he had not been able to see since the fatal crash.
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