Crash driver pleads guilty over fatality

[Tom]

The accident in La Trobe Terrace, near the corner of Gordon Avenue, where a 16-year-old girl died in October last year.

 

A GEELONG teenager has pleaded guilty to culpable driving over a crash which claimed the life of his 16-year-old passenger.

 

Michael James Chambers, 18, also entered a guilty plea to recklessly causing serious injury when he appeared in Geelong Magistrates' Court yesterday.

 

The count relates to injuries to a 15-year-old front seat passenger who survived the fatal crash in La Trobe Terrace last year.

 

The court heard discussions were continuing about whether the charge would later be changed to one of negligently causing serious injury.

 

Chambers was driving a car which crashed into a lamp post near the corner of Gordon Avenue about 10.30pm on October 13.

 

The 16-year-old victim, who was in the back seat, was critically injured when she was thrown onto the dashboard.

 

Her life-support was switched off 11 days later at The Alfred hospital.

 

Police earlier alleged in court Chambers had smoked 20 cones of cannabis and drank six cans of bourbon and cola before the crash.

 

It was also alleged he was travelling at speeds of up to 120km/h, 50km/h over the limit, as he crossed the La Trobe Terrace overpass seconds before losing control.

 

Magistrate Max Beck remanded Chambers in custody to appear before the Geelong County Court next month on the two charges to which he pleaded guilty.

 

The 18-year-old is facing a string of other charges in relation to the crash, including drink-driving, driving under the influence, speeding and unlicensed driving.

 

They were adjourned to a later date.

 

Author:Nicole Mayne

Date:Saturday, January 28

Source:www.geelonginfo.com

Copyright:www.geelonginfo.com

 

Police earlier alleged in court Chambers had smoked 20 cones of cannabis and drank six cans of bourbon and cola before the crash.

20 cones? I think the alcohol was the major influence here, usually after even 3 or 4 cones he would be very unlikely to be "travelling at speeds of up to 120km/h", after 5 or 6 he would have been doing anything he could (lame stoner excuses ) not to get off the couch, I think these cops need a reality check.

 

[runmedown]

20 cones? I think the alcohol was the major influence here, usually after even 3 or 4 cones he would be very unlikely to be "travelling at speeds of up to 120km/h", after 5 or 6 he would have been doing anything he could (lame stoner excuses  ) not to get off the couch, I think these cops need a reality check.

 

I agree as i couldnt even move after 5 cones let alone 20, but

Unfortunately cannabis may well have been a contributrary factor here, and we'll never know. The trouble is this type of incident plays right into the hands of people who see cannabis as an evil and puts stoners in a very bad light with the non-'smoking' public, and puts all the positive work being done to promote cannabis as the wonderful plant that it is back years for some people.

I personally, condem outright ANYBODY who drinks OR smokes and drives and with no exception - who's to say that it was NOT the cannabis that caused this terrible waste of a young life?

[Frazz]

who's to say that it was NOT the cannabis that caused this terrible waste of a young life?

 

Me!

Cannabis may have contributed to this death....it did not cause "this terrible waste of a young life?"

 

who's to say that it was NOT the alcohol that caused this terrible waste of a young life?

 

you can go on for ever....its pointless trying to attribute blame

[Nath]

Cannabis didnt kill anyone... they are just trying to put the blame on drugs, again. It was HIS foot that was accelerating the car, it was HIS eyes and hands that were controlling the car and seeing where it went... it was HIM. You cant blame drugs if you take them... even alcohol, people should learn to be more responsible. There have been times where Ive been out of my brain, but I manage to always stay in control of situations. Thats why I guess I dont like psychadelics that much, ecstasy was as far as I went when I was into that thing.

[Frazz]

Exactly....people have to learn to take responsibility for whatever they choose to put in thier bodies

[GreenzMaster]

Heya peoples

 

Micheal Chambers that name rings a bell. He was friend of my x's brother I've meet a few of the chambers most are good people. They are a corio family which almost explains the cause of the crash straight out! The majority of North Geelong Corio and surrounding suburbs has a high content of smokers and Its on a family scale. Micheal chambers has been around marijuana since birth and smoked since early early teens. When I say smoke I mean ALL day EVERY day the entire community is full of hardcore smokers and plastic gangsters. So rule out MJ as a cause the affects it would have had on him would've been the same they did the day of his driving test. Alchohol and testostorone where the only fuels in this fire!

 

The thing that scares me is this road incident is almost a right if passage in these communities. This crash however somebody got hurt and If it happend a year or two ago the car would have been stolen. Not the best place to raise your childeren. Whats even sadder is the amount of people dying from Corio Norlane In general 2005 a girl got cleaned up at the train station, a friend of mine died in a trail biking accident 2 weeks before the birth of his 1st child, in 2004 a motorcyclist died at the office steps of the ford engine plant on norlane rd and thats non violence related deaths.

 

Hopefully this community slump will end with his generation because If it doesn't more innocent people will be the victims

[WantDaChronic]

the booze + buds would have left him so fucked in the head he should have been passed out, not driving the fool

[runmedown]

Me!

Cannabis may have contributed to this death....it did not cause "this terrible waste of a young life?"

 

who's to say that it was NOT the alcohol that caused this terrible waste of a young life?

 

you can go on for ever....its pointless trying to attribute blame

 

thats the point i making, but the pro smokers - reverting to type - always leap to the defense of cannabis and the anti smokers alway do the opposite. Bottom line is driving and (any) drugs dont mix and if people feel that the fact drink was involved in this accident somehow over shadows the fact that the guy was stoned off his face, then they probably think driving while stoned is ok? Do smokers breath a sigh of relief cos the guy was drunk? You make it seem like im blaming the weed , im not, but i wont defend it either under these circumstances.

[Frazz]

With a name like that you must have a bit of experience with intoxicated drivers

[dsyfer]

With a name like that  you must have a bit of experience with intoxicated drivers 

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