A CAR accident caused by a habitual methamphetamine user placed a nurse and mother of young children in hospital with serious injuries it was revealed in Mandurah Magistrates Court today.
Damian John Morgan (49) pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing bodily harm in a manner that was dangerous to the public and driving with an illicit drug in his blood, and was sentenced to seven months in prison suspended for 12 months.
The police prosecutor told the court Morgan was driving a Jeep Cherokee on Mandurah Road in Meadow Springs on February 11 at 6.35am.
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READ NOWThe victim turned into the intersection and Morgan ran the red light and hit her car.
She was trapped in her car before being taken to Royal Perth Hospital with rib fractures, a brain contusion and bruising.
Counsel for the accused said her client, a former FIFO worker, had been fishing all night and had not used methamphetamine for two days before the accident.
She described the victim impact statement as “harrowing”.
Counsel said her client did not know why he did not see the red light.
Magistrate Anne Longden said Morgan was obviously remorseful.
“It was hard to read (the victim impact statement) as a person not involved,” she said.
“But as the person who caused that it must have an impact on you.”
Magistrate Longden said the victim cannot drive, cannot work and struggles to look after her children.
“You had been up all night, you might have been able to do that because of the methamphetamine in your system,” she said.
Morgan addressed the court following sentencing.
“Meth has ruined my life your honour,” he said.
“This is a turning point.”