A DRIVER who crashed into a pole in Castlemaine in January, allegedly causing the death of a backseat passenger and seriously injuring two others, was charged with being two-and-a-half times over the blood-alcohol limit.
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Court documents show he was also charged in relation to having a cocktail of drugs in his system at the time.
Michael Garry Suckling, 39, of Castlemaine, appeared by video link in the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday where his matter was adjourned to a later date.
The court was told Suckling was still having “a lot of issues” with injuries sustained in the crash on the corner of Forest and Urquhart streets just before 4pm on January 6.
Thirty-nine-year-old Kenneth Butler was killed in the crash.
Two other male passengers were seriously injured.
Suckling has been charged with dangerous driving causing death, failing to stop after the crash and failing to render assistance to the deceased passenger and others.
He was charged with driving unlicensed, not having the required drink driver interlock device, and speeding at 89 kilometres per hour in a 60 zone.
He was also charged with recording a blood-alcohol reading of 0.132 and testing positive to cannabis, Diazepam, Nordiazepam, Methadone and Sertraline, and failing to drive on the left side of Forest Street.
The court heard Suckling has been admitted to hospital on “a number of occasions” since the crash, and appeared via video link from hospital for his first court appearance in January.
His injuries will stop him from appearing in court in person on the next occasion.
Suckling did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody to next appear in the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on May 16.