Unlicensed driver Mathew Fyer high on meth fronts court over Nicole Woollard fatal crash

High on meth and unregistered driver, a Lilydale man reached speeds of almost 160km/h before he slammed into another car and killed his passenger during a police pursuit.

A drugged-up driver who reached speeds of almost 160km/h as he fled police has been jailed for more than 10 years after a horror collision that claimed the life of his friend.

Mathew Dyer, 36, was sentenced by the County Court on Thursday after having earlier pleaded guilty to a stack of charges including culpable driving causing death, reckless conduct endangering life, committing an indictable offence while on bail, driving whilst unlicensed, using an unregistered vehicle and fraudulently using a motor vehicle registration label.

Judge Trevor Wraight said that at 5.35pm on August 27, 2022 a speed detector radar in a police vehicle clocked Dyer travelling at 94km/h south of Scoresby Rd in a 60km/h zone.

The Nissan Mathew Dyer’s Saab slammed into during a police pursuit at the intersection of Ferntree Gully Rd and Cambden Park Parade.

Two senior constables started a pursuit before Dyer drove through a red light and collided with a Nissan at the intersection of Ferntree Gully Rd and Cambden Park Parade.

Dyer’s Saab was travelling a minimum of 159km/h when it slammed into the Nissan before colliding with a Toyota.

His passenger Nicole Woollard was pronounced dead at the scene while Dyer was taken to The Alfred hospital where a blood sample was taken at 7.30pm that day.

His blood tested positive for methylamphetamine, amphetamine, and alcohol. In his report, Dr

The mangled wreck of the Saab driven by Mathew Dyer that killed his front seat passenger and friend Nicole Woollard.

Jason Schreiber, of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, noted “Mr Dyer’s risk taking behaviours with speeding and accelerating away from police, as well as misjudging traffic situations with running a red light, can be attributed to the impairing effects of methamphetamine”.

At the time of the crash, Dyer was on bail on charges of possessing methylamphetamine, fraudulently using a registered label and theft.

The registration plates on the Saab were from a forklift.

“A clear message must be sent that such a conduct will be met with a stern sentence,” Judge Wraight said.

The Saab driven by Mathew Dyer after the fatal collision.

Victim impact statements were filed by Ms Woollard’s parents and her brother. Judge Wraight said the statements conveyed a clear and consistent theme in that she was a reliable, supporting, and a loving person with a heart of gold.

Her parents described the impact her devastating death has had on them, following the loss of her son.

Her mum said major celebrations were horrible without her children. “I miss her” were her concluding words.

At this stage of his life, Judge Wraight said Dyer needed significant treatment, support and supervision to overcome his drug addiction but on a positive note, he has a supportive partner, mum and brother.

Dyer was sentenced to nine years and six months on the charge of culpable driving causing death and three years for reckless conduct endangering life.

Judge Wraight ordered that nine months of the three-year term was to be served cumulative to the lead sentence.

Dyer was disqualified from obtaining a driver’s licence for eight years.