A Bendigo magistrate has said it was “absolutely miraculous” that a drunk and speeding driver, who tried to overtake a b-double and slammed head on into a ute, did not kill himself or others.
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Dean Glare appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, reckless conduct endangering serious injury and drink driving.
Leading Senior Constable Denis Farrell said Glare was driving from Swan Hill to Bendigo on October 17 last year when other motorists observed him travelling at speeds between 130km/h and 160km/h.
Leading Senior Constable Farrell said when Glare was nearing Kerang he approached a b-double truck and tried to overtake it without indicating or checking for oncoming traffic.
He said an oncoming ute had to take evasive action, but the two vehicles still collided and the ute driver was knocked unconscious.
The court heard Glare had drunk two premixed stubbies and four beers just before getting in his car and had a blood alcohol content of 0.140 one hour after the crash.
Glare’s lawyer said his client had been experiencing a “difficult period of his life” which had culminated in the “serious accident”.
“Prior to the accident my client had a relationship breakdown,” he said. “He fell into a spiral of hopelessness and he took to drinking.”
Magistrate Bruce Cottrill said Glare had priors for driving while suspended and drink driving, and would have to confront his issues with alcohol if he wanted to stay out of jail.
“It beggars belief someone would behave in this manner,” Mr Cottrill said.
“You put at extreme risk not only yourself but others on the road.
“You acted without any regard at all for their safety.”
Mr Cottrill placed Glare on an 18 month community corrections order with 200 hours of unpaid work and assessment and treatment for alcohol abuse.
Glare was also disqualified from driving for three years.