Keanan Rogers, 19, pleads guilty to careless driving in Belmont crash
A woman was left with a broken jaw after a P-plater crossed a median strip onto the wrong side of the road and crashed into a traffic light in Belmont, a court has heard.
Geelong
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A teenage plumbing apprentice has escaped without conviction after causing a nasty crash that left one passenger with a broken jaw.
Keanan Rogers, 19, fronted Geelong Magistrates Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to three charges including careless driving.
Police prosecutor senior constable Alex Turner told the court that Rogers crashed his car just after 8pm on June 19 last year.
Rogers had been driving a blue Hyundai wagon along Colac Rd, towards the intersection with South Valley Rd and Pioneer Rd.
Two female friends of Rogers were passengers in the vehicle, neither wearing seatbelts.
About 350m from the intersection, Rogers veered to the right, crossing onto the grass median strip and hitting several signs, before continuing onto the wrong side of the road and crashing into traffic and street light poles.
Police arrived at the scene at about 8.17pm, and spoke to Rogers, confirming his identity and that he had a P1 probationary licence at the time.
One of the passengers received minor cuts, while the other – who had been in the back seat – sustained a broken jaw.
Rogers told police the car went onto the grass section and “locked up”, meaning he couldn’t move the wheel.
His lawyer confirmed that remained in instructions, causing some confusion on the part of magistrate Kimberly Swadesir.
“Your client is pleading guilty today to driving in a careless manner … effectively negating any suggestion it was a mechanical issue,” Ms Swadesir said.
The court heard Rogers had written a “very nice” letter of remorse and admitted to a lapse or error in Judgement.
Rogers’ lawyer said the lapse of judgement was in regard to having too many passengers, but he took full responsibility for what happened through his guilty plea.
“He makes no excuses for his actions,” his lawyer said, noting Rogers had already completed a road trauma awareness course.
She asked Ms Swadesir to impose a fine without conviction, as a conviction would impact his future prospects as he planned to open his own plumbing business upon finishing his apprenticeship.
Rogers remained “very close friends” with his passengers, despite their injuries, and has apologised, the court heard.
The prosecution accepted with the defence’s submission for a financial penalty and no conviction.
Ms Swadesir warned Rogers against reckless behaviour on the roads and the impact it can have, not only on those in the car but their families.
“You’re a young man; there’s a period in young men’s lives, often around the time they get their licence, they think they’re superhuman,” she told Rogers.
Rogers was placed on a four-month adjourned undertaking without conviction and must pay $250 to the court fund.
Originally published as Keanan Rogers, 19, pleads guilty to careless driving in Belmont crash
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