Adrian Simic pleads guilty in Southport court to boozed-up Bonogin Rd crash

A Gold Coast man recorded a shocking alcohol reading after crashing head-on with the other vehicle on one of the region’s most notorious roads. Find out what happened.

A Gold Coast father was more than four times the alcohol limit when he crashed head-on with a car carrying a mother and her baby on one of the region’s most notorious roads.

Adrian Simic’s Mercedes coupe was seen being driven chaotically and swerving onto the other side of the road just before the collision on Bonogin Rd, Bonogin on January 30, Southport Magistrates Court was told.

The 32-year-old veered into the oncoming vehicle’s path, causing the other car to spin out and crash into a power pole. Simic’s Mercedes was found in a “dangerous” position blocking traffic, it was heard.

No serious injuries were reported by Simic or the mother and infant in the other car.

Simic later recorded a blood alcohol concentration of 0.212.

Adrian Simic (left). Picture: Facebook/Adrian Simic

It was reported at the time that the crash occurred exactly a month after the horrific collision on the same road that claimed the lives of retired skin doctor Christopher Fawcett, Susan Zimmer, and her daughter Steffanie Zimmer.

Uiatu “Joan” Taufua was charged with manslaughter following the crash, and remains in custody as her case proceeds through the courts.

It is not alleged that there is any connection between the two cases.

Simic’s defence lawyer Ashkan Tai, of Ashkan Tai Lawyers, told the court the father of two was “extremely grateful” no one was injured and understood the fear he would have caused to another parent.

He said the crash caused the Varsity Lakes dental prosthetist and business owner to recognise his underlying problem with alcohol abuse.

“(Simic) had been sober for some time (but) there were added financial stresses and personal stresses in his home, which led him to return to the one crutch that he knew,” Mr Tai said.

“Unfortunately he went far, far overboard and made the foolish decision to drive home.”

Mr Tai said Simic had since undertaken counselling and reduced his working hours to be able to spend more time with his family and take care of his health.

Magistrate Louisa Pink told Simic he was extremely lucky no one was injured, and that she would take his limited traffic history and the near-three months he had already spent without a licence into account.

Simic pleaded guilty to one count of driving under the influence of liquor.

He was fined $1500 and disqualified from driving for 12 months. No conviction was recorded.