Liam Coombs pleads guilty in Ingham court to driving charge after car wreck

A young farm hand became belligerent and abusive toward police and hospital staff in the wake of a bizarre traffic accident that totalled his car.

Liam Alexander Coombs, 23, pleaded guilty in the Ingham Magistrates Court to failing to have control of a vehicle, obstructing police and two counts of failing to provide a specimen of breath or blood in the wake of the single-vehicle crash on Bambaroo Road on October 19. Picture: Cameron Bates

A young farm hand became belligerent and abusive toward police and hospital staff in the wake of a bizarre traffic accident that left his car a complete write-off, a North Queensland court was told.

Liam Alexander Coombs, 23, pleaded guilty in the Ingham Magistrates Court to failing to have control of a vehicle, obstructing police and two counts of failing to provide a specimen of breath or blood in the wake of the single-vehicle crash on Bambaroo Road on October 19.

Prior to Coombs’ guilty pleas, prosecutor Luay Allawy formally withdrew charges of driving under the influence (UIL) and a separate count of obstruct police.

Outlining the facts of the case, Mr Allawy said police were called to Bambaroo south of Ingham after reports the defendant had lost control of a Toyota Corolla and hit signage at a rail crossing.

He said the force of the impact was such that one of the car’s wheels had been torn off.

“A witness said that the defendant was driving the car at high speed and lost traction and that’s what caused the car to slide out.”

Mr Allawy said Coombs denied losing control.

“The defendant said to police, ‘I didn’t slide off the road but I f---ed up my car and I f---ed up, I did, I f---ed up’.”

He said police believed Coombs was affected by an intoxicating substance given his bloodshot eyes and slurred speech.

Liam Alexander Coombs, 23, pleaded guilty in the Ingham Magistrates Court to failing to have control of a vehicle, obstructing police and two counts of failing to provide a specimen of breath or blood in the wake of the single-vehicle crash on Bambaroo Road on October 19. Picture: Cameron Bates

Mr Allawy said the defendant was warned on multiple occasions about his “belligerent behaviour and not following the instructions of police in relation to the investigation”.

“The defendant continued this behaviour and was arrested for obstructing police.”

Asked if he had consumed alcohol, Coombs told police: “I don’t know, test me c---.”

Mr Allawy said despite Coombs uncouth invitation, the defendant refused to provide a breath sample despite three requests.

He said the defendant’s poor behaviour continued on the way to hospital, where he again refused to provide a sample.

“At hospital he argued with police and hospital workers.”

Mr Allawy said that while at Ingham Police Station, Coombs provided a sample for heart-monitoring purposes, which showed a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.238 per cent, almost five times the legal driving limit.

Defence lawyer Joseph Byrne said his client had always worked since high school and a loss of licence would have a highly detrimental impact on his livelihood.

“He feels very foolish for the way that he behaved on that day and he does acknowledge that he made stupid decisions,” he said.

“He accepts responsibility and understands that he will lose his licence for some time.”

Coombs nodded as Magistrate Cathy McLennan told him that he was old enough to know better.

The defendant was convicted of the traffic offences, fined a total of $900 – a reduced figure given his car was a write-off and uninsured – and disqualified from driving for eight months.

On the criminal charge of obstruct police, Coombs was placed on a $600 good-behaviour bond but no conviction recorded.

“Thank you,” he told the magistrate as he left the court.

Originally published as Liam Coombs pleads guilty in Ingham court to driving charge after car wreck