Jarrod Arthur Whitmore: Man gets trapped in flood waters after wild police chase

A man who went on a dangerous road rampage and swerved into oncoming traffic as he tried to flee from police wound up stranding himself and four passengers in flood waters. Read what happened when he faced court:

A man who led police on a wild car chase through Dalby and ended up stranding himself and his four passengers in floodwaters while over the legal alcohol limit has been sentenced in court.

Jarrod Arthur Whitmore sped up and began swerving into oncoming traffic when police attempted to pull him over for having missing seat belts, a damaged windscreen and balding tires on a Dalby road on March 7.

Police prosecutor Derek Brady said half an hour after Whitmore sped off from the officers, a concerned member of the community called police to report that the 18-year-old and four others were stranded in floodwaters after ignoring a ‘road closed’ sign.

“There had been five occupants of the vehicle when there should’ve only been three,” Sergeant Brady said.

“(Whitmore) was aggressive with police and referring to them as ‘c—ts’ when taken into custody.”

Dalby Magistrates Court heard that Whitmore was also found to be driving over the general alcohol limit, as he recorded a blood alcohol concentration of 0.051 at the scene.

Sergeant Brady said it was concerning that this was Whitmore’s third offence in only six months relating to operating a dangerous vehicle.

Defence lawyer Julia Molloy told the court that her client was very remorseful for his actions, which stemmed from a fight with the partner with whom he now shares a child earlier that day.

Magistrate Kerrie O’Callaghan condemned the Dalby man for his dangerous behaviour and for putting others at risk.

“It’s very dangerous not only for you but other people on the road, the passengers of the vehicle and police who had to rescue you,” she said.

Whitmore pleaded guilty to one count each of evading police, obstructing police, and seven counts of breaching a bail condition.

He pleaded guilty to a further two counts of dangerous operation of a vehicle and one count each of drink driving, unlicensed driving, and driving a vehicle that was unregistered, uninsured, and defective.

The Dalby man was sentenced to 50 days’ jail and must complete six months of probation upon his release.

He was also disqualified from driving for two years and three months.

Originally published as Jarrod Arthur Whitmore: Man gets trapped in flood waters after wild police chase