A man was sentenced in Mudgee Local Court last week for driving under the influence of alcohol, after he'd be charged for a crash that left him unconscious and trapped and his vehicle.
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James Richard Wilson of Lowes Creek Road, Quirindi, was placed on a six-month Community Corrections Order and disqualified for six months to be followed by a two-year interlock period.
At about 8pm on Saturday, April 13, 2019, police working at The End Festival in Hill End, had seen the 22-year-old and a friend within the licensed area of the event.
They noted that he appeared to be unsteady on his feet and had an open bottle of wine, which security told him he couldn't take with him as he went to leave the cordoned-off area. Wilson drank the remainder and put the empty bottle in a nearby garbage bin.
Officers told his friend that he appeared to be heavily intoxicated and to ensure that he didn't attempt to go to the pub.
Around 40 minutes later, they were called to a single-vehicle crash approximately eight kilometres north of the town on the Hill End Road. They arrived to find Wilson trapped by confinement and unconscious in the driver's seat of the vehicle, which was in a culvert at a right-hand turn.
His friend - the passenger at the time - and passers-by attended to him until emergency personnel freed him and he then was flown to Westmead Hospital.
The defendant's solicitor, Peter Orr, told the court that in addition to the injuries sustained - including losing some teeth - the crash has also "been a costly exercise". As he's not eligible for insurance, due to be intoxicated, and that he's still paying the finance owing on the wrecked vehicle.
However, Magistrate David Day asked, "is he aware of just how lucky he is?"
"He was well affected, he shouldn't have thought about getting close to vehicle. The decision to drive, after he was told he was under the influence by others, is baffling," he continued.