A "completely out of it" Dunedin driver caused a head-on collision, rolling a car and fracturing the passenger’s sternum.
James Liam Rangi Barr, 29, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday after earlier pleading guilty to drug-impaired driving, his ninth charge of disqualified driving and careless driving.
The court heard that on August 19 the defendant was driving in Main South Rd, near Mosgiel, and crossed on to the wrong side of the road.
He crashed into a ute travelling in the opposite direction which caused it to roll multiple times, ending up on its roof.
The passenger in that car suffered a fractured sternum from the crash.
Barr had injuries which required him to be hospitalised and both vehicles were extensively damaged.
A blood sample contained 90ng of methamphetamine — the high-risk level is 50ng.
Ketamine and THC above the high-risk level were also detected.
Barr told police he only drove because there was no food in the house.
He said he had no memory of the crash and suggested he may have had a seizure.
He admitted consuming methamphetamine and said he was prescribed cannabis.
He felt sorry for the other people in the crash as they had not done anything wrong.
Yesterday, Judge Michael Turner described Barr as "completely out of it" when he was driving.
"I have little, if any, sympathy for the injuries that Mr Barr suffered," he said.
"The carelessness was gross."
Counsel Henry Benson-Pope urged the judge to impose home detention as Barr was beginning to address his addiction issues.
Judge Turner noted Barr received a sentence of home detention last year for drink-driving and committed his most recent offences while he was subject to post-detention conditions.
The judge said the sentence did not seem to have brought about change.
"You are saying let’s put him back on home detention, because this time he’s got the message."
By "the narrowest of margins" he decided against locking Barr up and sentenced him to seven months’ home detention.
The judge disqualified him from driving for 18 months and ordered him to pay $1000 reparation to the victims of the crash.
"If you continue to offend this way, you will go to prison," the judge warned.
— Felicity Dear, Court reporter
