A MAN who was involved in a fatal motorbike crash and later found to have illicit drugs in his system at the time has been disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined $1000.
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The matter involving Andrew Michael Stone, 45, of the Bridle Track, was heard before Bathurst Local Court on Monday.
Stone did not attend, with local court magistrate Michael Allen dealing with the matter in his absence, under Section 196.
Police facts tendered to the court told how the fatality occurred at 1.30pm on February 25 last year.
Stone was in a motor vehicle which collided with motorcyclists on Mount Horrible Road, Mount Horrible.
Gary Jones, the rider of one of the motorcycles, was critically injured and, as a result of the collision, was airlifted to hospital for treatment. He died eight hours later from his injuries.
Due to the nature of Mr Jones’ injuries, police investigating the crash noted it was probable he would die within 30 days of the collision.
Because of this knowledge, Stone was arrested as per Division 4A, Section 24a of the Road Transport Act 1999 and taken to Bathurst Base Hospital to supply a blood sample.
The court was told that in the course of the analysis it was found Stone’s blood contained an amount of delta-9-THC acid (the active ingredient found in cannabis) at a concentration of 0.010 milligrams per litre.
However, Dr Judith Pearl from the NSW Police Force Clinical Forensic Medical Unit supplied a statement relating to the collision, stating that in her professional opinion the amount of drug located in Stone’s blood would not have amounted to any impairment of his driving ability which would have contributed to the crash.
Mr Allen convicted Stone in his absence, fining him $1000 and $83 in court costs and disqualifying him from driving for a period of 12 months.
