A MAN who drove his XR6 Falcon at 200 kilometres an hour through a busy school zone gave no explanation for doing so when he made his first court appearance on Monday.
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James Lawrie Scott Bushell, 23, of Stewart Street, Bathurst, appeared in person before magistrate Michael Allen in Bathurst Local Court on Monday, where he pleaded guilty to driving recklessly\furiously in a dangerous manner.
After reading the police facts, Mr Allen told Bushell’s solicitor, Mr Tedesci, the matter was “extremely serious”.
Mr Allen asked Mr Tedesci what possessed his client to drive that way and was told there “was no real answer, is the best he can put it”.
Mr Allen said Bushell hadn’t “joined the dots” on what he had done, saying the behaviour was a “recipe for catastrophe”.
Police facts tendered to the court told how Bushell admitted to driving through a school zone near MacKillop College at 200km an hour at 3.30pm on June 30.
There were school students and their parents in the vicinity at the time.
Bushell initially came to the attention of police in Alpha Street, when he was allegedly clocked doing 109km an hour in a 50km zone by an unmarked Highway Patrol car.
Police say they saw Bushell turn right into Russell Street and accelerate harshly. They say they activated all warning lights and began catching up as Bushell continued onto Gormans Hill Road, towards MacKillop College.
Police saw his vehicle disappear over a crest and enter the school zone. At this point, police estimated his speed to be no less than 180km an hour in a 40km an hour zone.
As police gave chase, parents were frantically pointing officers in the direction Bushell had taken. Other witnesses also indicated the direction Bushell was heading.
Police eventually stopped Bushell near the Lagoon Road turnoff and, as they approached, they noticed he had a male passenger in the car.
When told why he was stopped, Bushell made full admissions to his speed, telling police he was doing “about 130km an hour” on Gormans Hill Road.
When police put it to him his speed was not less than 180km an hour, he admitted: “Yeah, okay, it was 200km.”
"I just gave it a bit; it was really stupid. I will take it and learn my lesson,” he said.
Police said the danger was beyond comprehension.
Mr Allen adjourned the matter until September 25, requesting a full pre-sentence report with all options.
