Raymond Scott James pleads guilty after horror Cushnie crash

One of the three people airlifted following a high-impact crash in the South Burnett has pleaded guilty to drug driving and failing to give way, as details of the traumatic incident were revealed in court.

Raymond Scott James, who caused a devastating car crash, which required three rescue helicopters, has pleaded guilty to driving with drugs in his system and failing to give way.

A man who suffered a permanent brain injury in a devastating car crash, which required three rescue helicopters, has pleaded guilty to driving with drugs in his system and failing to give way.

Raymond Scott James, 44, appeared in Kingaroy Magistrates Court on Thursday, where he pleaded guilty to two charges: failing to give way and driving with a relevant drug present in his saliva.

The court heard James had previously been convicted for more serious charges related to the crash, and had since completed his parole.

Three rescue helicopters were dispatched following a devastating car crash in Cushnie in 2022. Photo: LifeFlight.

Police prosecutor Lisa Manns said James was driving in Cushnie, south west of Wondai in the South Burnett, in a green Nissan Pulsar with his partner in the front passenger seat on December 7, 2022.

He was travelling west on Teschs Rd, approaching an intersection with Reinkes Rd.

The driver of another car, heading north on Cushnie Rd, noticed James’ vehicle approaching the intersection.

“She had seen the defendant’s vehicle enter from her right. It didn’t appear to slow or stop to give way, which brought the defendant’s vehicle directly into the path of her car,” Sgt Manns said.

Raymond Scott James pleaded guilty to driving with drugs in his system and failing to give way.

The court heard the other driver braked but was unable to avoid the collision.

The impact was so severe that James’ car was forced off the road and sustained “further hard impacts”.

Sergeant Manns said James suffered “significant injuries with permanent effects”.

“His passenger was also significantly injured, and the driver of the other vehicle sustained a fractured left foot and other injuries,” she said.

Emergency services had to extract James from his vehicle before he was flown to Princess Alexandra Hospital.

Three rescue helicopters were dispatched following a devastating car crash in Cushnie in 2022. Photo: LifeFlight.

Magistrate Andrew Sinclair asked James to describe the injuries he sustained in the crash.

“Permanent brain injury, broke all my ribs, pelvis, hips, left leg, punctured both lungs, and broke my C1 in my neck. I had to wear a halo for six months,” James said.

“It changed my whole life.

“Since the accident, I haven’t driven a vehicle. I still sort of get scared of even getting inside a vehicle,” he said.

The court heard James had little memory of the accident but told police he was in the area searching for property to purchase.

A blood sample taken from James at the hospital showed Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in his system.

“He couldn’t recall how the drug could have been in his blood at the time of the crash,” Sgt Manns said.

“You’ve unfortunately hurt the lady in her car, but you seemed to come off far worse than she did,” Mr Sinclair said.

James was fined $450 and disqualified from driving for three months.

Originally published as Raymond Scott James pleads guilty after horror Cushnie crash