Farm worker Peter Smith guilty of drink driving, careless driving and unlicensed driving: Korumburra Court

“Three quick cans” left a Gippsland farm worker unable to remember getting behind the wheel on Christmas Eve, before he smashed into a tree.

Peter Smith, 59, fronted the Korumburra Magistrates’ Court on Thursday and pleaded guilty to a string of driving charges.

A Gippsland farm worker “doesn’t remember” getting behind the wheel after Christmas Eve drinks at the pub — a decision that left him missing teeth and with multiple broken bones after he smashed into a tree.

Peter Smith, 59, fronted the Korumburra Magistrates’ Court on Thursday pleading guilty to a raft of driving offences including drink and drug driving.

Smith was driving an unregistered ute on Harding Lawson Rd in Fish Creek before he lost control and crashed into tree on Christmas Eve last year.

He was taken to The Alfred with a broken nose, leg, ribs, sternum and multiple teeth knocked out.

Tests found he had both alcohol and methamphetamine in his system.

In an interview with police in January this year, Smith said he couldn’t remember any details from the incident.

“I had been at work — stopped at the pub on the way home — I think I had three quick cans which were eight or nine per cent so that’s about it,” he said.

Smith was drinking at a pub in South Gippsland before he got behind the wheel and crashed into a tree on Christmas Eve last year.

“And then coming home, don’t remember a thing, don’t remember leaving the pub, don’t really remember getting there.”

Smith said he knew he was unlicensed and the methamphetamine was for recreational use.

Defence lawyer Joshua Cameron told the court the crash had a “significant impact” on his client, who had told him there was no “great excuse” for driving and it was “stupid”.

“He wasn’t disqualified at the time but wasn’t licensed — he had a permit (for the vehicle) to be taken to VicRoads to be registered — he was in the process of preparing his application to the court to be relicensed,” Mr Cameron said.

“As a result of the accident he’s significantly injured himself — he spent about a fortnight in The Alfred hospital and he’s had multiple surgeries.”

Mr Cameron said Smith had been unable to work since the incident due to his injuries.

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Magistrate Stephen Lee said it was “very poor judgement on several levels”.

“Everyone knows Christmas Eve is a tricky period if you decide to have a lot of drinks,” Mr Lee said.

“You had meth at some stage as well.”

Mr Lee said the circumstances were “terrible” to drive and Smith should have gotten a taxi.

“Let’s be clear Mr Smith, it’s very fortunate in many ways that no one else suffered injuries or was killed — that’s what could have occurred,” he said.

“Tragically for yourself, you were the sole victim and you’ve paid a pretty heavy price physically — I’m horrified to hear about all those injuries and in particular your teeth.

“That’s a terrible tragedy for you — on one occasion, you have thrown your judgement out the window.”

Smith was convicted, fined $2200 and his licence was disqualified for 18 months.