NEWS : 5.11.09 - Man jailed over drug driving death

[kingpin007]

Man jailed over drug driving death

A man has been sentenced to three years jail for causing the death of a woman when he drove under the influence of drugs.

Lee David Toplass was high on cannabis and amphetamines when he drove along the wrong side of the Kwinana Freeway in July last year.

He crashed head on into a car driven by a 37-year-old woman who died at the scene.

Her 18-year-old son who was a passenger in the car suffered severe injuries.

Toplass pleaded guilty to dangerous driving occasioning death, driving under the influence of drugs and dangerous driving causing bodily harm.

In the Fremantle Magistrates Court today he was jailed two years and 8 months for the woman's death and another 4 months for causing grievous bodily harm to her son.

He will be eligible for parole after serving 18 months.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/05/2734430.htm

 

[hyroller]

Seems reasonable to me

I would have given him longer than 18 months non-parole

You would have to be massively fucked up to be driving on the wrong side of the road(!)

 

[Crankinit]

Yeah, 18 months seems a little on the leniant side. Dude was obviously off his tit, no excuse for driving like that.

 

[chemi]

That's just ridiculous, I can't imagine how fucked up he must have been to be driving on the WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD, and just from cannabis and amphetamine! Had it been LSD or something then perhaps I could understand.

Should be 5 years before parole. If he wasn't under the influence of drugs and he was on the correct side of the road, then 18 months.

Fucking irresponsible dickheads... this stuff makes me so angry.

 

[Lotta Cooties]

3 years is a joke. he killed an innocent person and harmed another and for what, cause he was off his head? can imagine how her son must feel that in a matter of time the prick will be out on the streets. if it was me i'd end up killing him when he got out

 

[drug_mentor]

This guy deserved way longer, when being grossly irresponsible costs another human their life you deserve SEVERE punishment imho.

 

[acidprime]

While the time might not be long enough, atleast its inline with alcohol.

Both should be increased.

 

[chemi]

While the time might not be long enough, atleast its inline with alcohol.

Both should be increased.

Agreed. The only positive thing I have to say about the sentence is that it was not dealt with more harshly than being under the influence of alcohol.

 

[speedyedie]

That sentance is an utter joke.

 

[chemi]

? which?