Carlos Rafael Sanchez Roldan pleads guilty to dangerous driving

A pizza delivery driver had been showing off for his mates, hitting speeds more than 70km/h at a major roundabout before a high-speed crash.

A pizza delivery driver involved in a high-speed crash on a major Mackay road drove at more than 70km/h the speed limit “to show off for his mates”.

Now the teen will not be able to get behind the wheel of a car for six months or he risks losing his licence for another two years.

The collision, at 11.49pm on January 29, 2022 at Mackay Ring Road, wiped out an overhead street light which could land the 19 year old with a damage bill totalling tens of thousands of dollars.

“If you want to hang out with mugs, you turn into a mug,” Magistrate Damien Dwyer told him.
Police had received multiple calls before they spotted Carlos Rafael Sanchez Roldan dangerously driving at about 133km/h in a 100km/h zone.

Carlos Rafael Sanchez Roldan pleaded guilty in Mackay Magistrates Court to dangerous driving.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard the road was wet from recent rain and Roldan tried to slow down as he neared the roundabout, but all four tyres of his Holden Commodore ute locked up and he spun out.

His vehicle hit the light post, knocking it from its base, before coming to a stop at a grassy hill.

“Spare wheels and tyres that were in the rear of the utility at the time were projected from the vehicle and landed outside on the ground,” prosecutor Harry Coburn said.

The court heard Roldan told police he had been travelling about “150-ish km/h” including in an 80km/h zone when he hit the brakes.

“The next thing he knew he’s ended up backwards in the gutter where his car has come to rest,” Mr Coburn said.

He drove dangerously for 3.9km – he told police “he was just speeding to show off for his mates”.

The court heard after reaching about 133km/h, Roldan saw the red and blue lights of the police car so he kept speeding to more than 150km/h.

The 19 year old is not allowed to drive for the next six months or he risks losing his licence for another two years.

Roldan pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.

“I hope his mates are just as impressed by his pushbike riding skills,” Mr Dwyer said.

Defence solicitor Rob Beamish, of McKays Solicitors, said his client had worked as a Domino’s Pizza delivery driver and has since completed a driving course.

“He does take full responsibility for his actions.”

The court heard Roldan no longer spent time with that group of friends.

Mr Beamish said the conduct “would be at the bottom of the scale for dangerous driving” as it was reasonably short and no one was hurt.

“This is just stupid,” Mr Dwyer told Roldan, adding his conduct had put him and others “at very real risk”.

Roldan was fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for six months. A conviction was not recorded.

Originally published as Carlos Rafael Sanchez Roldan pleads guilty to dangerous driving