Jail for disqualified driver who led air wing, highway patrol on dangerous southeast police pursuit
A hoon ute driver reached speeds of 120km/h while trying to outrun a police helicopter from Dandenong South. When police laid down ‘stop-sticks’ he lost control, crashing into a pole — but for two officers, it could have been much worse.
South East
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A hoon who was trying to escape a chasing police helicopter when he narrowly missed hitting a police officer as he laid down ‘stop-sticks’ has been jailed.
Daniel Boyer – who was disqualified and driving an unregistered ute with dodgy plates – also raced through roadworks at 100km/h.
The 25-year-old pleaded guilty at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court yesterday to charges including exposing an emergency worker to risk by driving, reckless conduct endangering serious injury and failing to stop on police direction.
The court heard Boyer’s Holden ute was seen doing burnouts in Dandenong South by a police helicopter about midnight on February 27 this year.
The pilot called in highway units who tried to follow Boyer as he raced off at speeds of up to 120km/h along 50km/h side streets.
He then led them on a frightening pursuit across the southeast suburbs including along Western Port Highway, through a red light at Thompsons Rd and down the Mornington Peninsula Freeway.
He sped through roadworks – with workers on site – at over 100km/h, narrowly missing one as he sped past.
Cops waiting ahead were about to deploy ‘stop-sticks’ when Boyer arrived on the scene and quickly veered to get around one officer, missing him by metres.
He lost control and his car ploughed into a power pole, which fell and nearly hit another police member.
Boyer ran off but the K9 dogs soon got him.
He admitted doing the burnouts, disqualified driving and having dodgy plates, but denied the excessive speed and said he didn’t see any roadworkers.
His defence lawyer told the court he had “essentially panicked” when he saw the police helicopter and highway units following him, but accepted that was no excuse for his dangerous behaviour.
He said the unemployed Boyer had been homeless and was couch-surfing at the time, and although he’d had drug issues in the past, they were not part of this offending.
The court heard he had committed a similar crime of trying to avoid police in 2017.
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Magistrate Greg Connellan said the only way his offending could be any more serious was if he had injured or killed someone, which thankfully hadn’t happened.
“You drove at 100km/h in a work zone, putting workers at risk as well as police,” Mr Connellan said.
“You tried to go around ‘stop-sticks’ and ended up hitting a power pole; you weren’t far from hitting him (the police officer), and you weren’t in control (of the car).
“All because you like to see a bit of smoke coming out the back of your car.”
Boyer was jailed for 14 months minus 59 days he had already served in custody, and disqualified from driving for three years.