County Court: Driver fronts court for speeding, crashing and seriously injuring his friend

A man who took his two mates hooning across the northern suburbs in his modified sports car lost control and crashed causing lifelong injuries to one passenger.

Nicholas Sevdalis outside the County Court after pleading guilty to driving charges.

A drugged-up maniac who took his modified sports car hooning in Melbourne’s suburbs at up to 135km/h lost control, splitting the vehicle in two, with one of his mates needing his leg amputated.

Nicholas Sevdalis, 36, pleaded guilty at the County Court on Thursday to charges of negligently driving causing serious injury, recklessly causing injury and recklessly driving at

an excessive speed under the influence of cannabis.

Sevdalis and two were mates were cruising in his hotted-up Nissan Skyline at 12.45pm on January 4, 2022, on Sunshine Ave, Kealba, when he accelerated past 135km/h, weaving in and out of two lanes, before the car spun out of control.

A witness said: “My concentration was on the car and I was thinking what was he doing. The car disintegrated. Bits and pieces were flying everywhere.”

Nicholas Sevdalis split his Nissan Skyline in two when he crashed. Picture: Generic

Sevdalis and one of his passengers managed to get out of the car while the other mate was trapped. He suffered traumatic head injuries including open skull fractures and his right leg has had to be amputated above the knee.

During a police interview in July 2022, Sevdalis said looking at his amputee friend in the eye “kills him”.

The defence lawyer said Sevdalis’ grandfather gave him the Skyline about two years before the crash. Sevdalis modified it specifically for use on raceways and had no intention of driving on the day of the crash but acceded to a request by two friends, his lawyer said.

Sevdalis showed immaturity, his lawyer said, but Judge Hogan said there were a huge number of immature people on the road.

Nicholas Sevdalis, 36, was under the influence of cannabis when he crashed his car.

“It has to stop. There’s terrible road toll and injuries. We pay motor vehicle registration and what not and all that goes into rehabilitating people,’’ Judge Hogan said.

“General deterrence looms large. He’s got cannabis in his system, he’s driving at a maniacal speed, weaving in and out of lanes in a car he knew was modified and shouldn’t have been used on a normal highway. His culpability is high,” she said.

Sevdalis’ mother told the court her son decided to leave school after he was diagnosed with a severe learning disability. He started using cannabis in his late 20s following break-up in relationships and to help with anxiety, she said.

Sevdalis was remanded in custody for sentencing on November 9.