DEFENCE counsel for a Mount Gambier man who crashed his car into the Blue Lake has revealed how his client’s only memory of the incident is waking up on the cliff-face of the volcanic crater.
Jack Bayley, 23, was given a suspended prison sentence in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court yesterday after being charged with driving without due care, drink driving and driving disqualified.
The charges relate to an incident where Bayley crashed his Mitsubishi Triton through a guardrail and plunged around 150 metres into the Blue Lake late on the evening of August 3 last year.
Remarkably, the defendant survived the incident after he was ejected from the vehicle just 20 metres from the water’s edge.
The prosecution said police were called to the scene of the crash at around 11.45pm after a witness noticed the damage to the fence and tyre marks on the road.
“I know the incident,” Magistrate Anderson said.
“He was the gentleman who drove the car into the Blue Lake.”
Defence counsel Dylan Walsh said on the night in question, Bayley had travelled to the city with friends to “go out for a beer” to get over the recent breakdown of a seven year relationship.
“The last thing he can recall was being asked to leave the Macs Hotel and then he blacked out,” Mr Walsh said.
“Next thing he woke up on the cliff of the Blue Lake.
“He has an inability to recall the incident due to his intoxication.”
The prosecution said a blood alcohol reading was taken at the hospital and back-calculated to represent .100.
Mr Walsh said Bayley later found out he had an altercation with his friend at the licensed venue and took the keys to his own vehicle, which his friend had been driving that evening.
“He never intended for this to happen and is very apologetic for his actions,” Mr Walsh said.
“He is upset about what he has put his parents through.”
Magistrate Anderson said the defendant’s driving on the night was clearly dangerous and he was a risk to anyone else who might have been on the road.
“If you were driving properly, you would not have gone off the road and into the Blue Lake,” Magistrate Anderson said.
“You had quite clearly been drinking heavily.”
She highlighted the man’s lucky escape after it was revealed he did not suffer any serious physical injuries as a result of the crash.
“I accept the trauma of the incident is something you continue to deal with,” Magistrate Anderson said.
“I understand why it is distressing for both you and your family.”
Magistrate Anderson also noted the high-profile nature of the incident.
“This incident hit all of the news agencies,” Magistrate Anderson said.
Bayley was sentenced to 18 days imprisonment for driving disqualified, which was suspended on him entering a $500, 12-month good behaviour bond.
He was also fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for 12 months.
No matters in relation to compensation were discussed during the court proceedings.
