A driver high on methylamphetamine drove toward pedestrians and forced cars off the road during what a judge called an “appalling” attempt to flee police, one that could have ended in multiple deaths.
Brent Michael White, 30, was recently sentenced to 21 months in prison over his December 2022 rampage through Hobart’s northern suburbs that put dozens of innocent lives in danger.
The Supreme Court heard the incident began when detectives spotted White behind the wheel of a stolen car on Boyer Road. Rather than stopping, he sped off, hitting speeds of up to 130km/h.
Justice Michael Brett said White weaved through traffic by crossing into oncoming lanes, forcing other drivers to swerve to avoid head-on crashes.
Even after police laid down road spikes that shredded his tyres, he kept going – driving on the metal rims.
At one point, White took a roundabout in Bridgewater on the wrong side of the road, heading straight into oncoming traffic and forcing at least one car off the road.
He later lost control and veered onto a grass verge near a bus shelter, where people were waiting.
“There were two persons standing at the bus shelter who were put at risk by your manner of driving and lack of proper control of the vehicle,” the judge said.
The evade ended when he crashed into the front yard of a home, wedging his car between a parked vehicle and a fence, before trying to run away on foot.
Blood tests later revealed White had methylamphetamine in his system at levels higher than those typically seen in drug-driving cases.
Justice Brett said while no one was injured, there was “real and significant potential for catastrophic injury or death throughout the entire course of the driving”.
“I regard this crime as a serious example of dangerous driving. The driving took place over a considerable distance and time,” he said.
“The occupants of a number of vehicles were put at actual risk arising from the real possibility of collision as a result of your appalling manner of driving.”
White was also disqualified from driving for three years.
