A MAN crashed his Harley and broke his neck while riding back from his best mate’s funeral with the dead man’s son on the back, a court has heard.
Both were ejected off the bike and suffered serious injuries, including broken bones.
Christopher Bee, 47, appeared in Ballarat Magistrates Court yesterday where he pleaded guilty to a single charge of driving in a manner dangerous. The court heard Bee had attended his friend Robert Gercovitch’s funeral at the Ballarat Cemetery on May 30 last year.
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After leaving the cemetery, he engaged in what the magistrate described as “stupid driving”.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Steve Kent said Bee, with his best friend’s son on the back, accelerated rapidly as he turned out of the cemetery gates and onto Doveton Street behind two vehicles.
Bee then went to overtake the two cars – he was travelling at a minimum speed of 75.9km/h at the time – but at the last moment saw that one of them had their right indicator on and was about to turn.
Bee was forced to slam on the brakes but couldn’t avoid crashing into the turning vehicle, which rotated and was knocked 10 metres by the force of the impact.
Both men were ejected off the bike, landing near the driver’s door.
Senior Constable Kent said they both suffered extensive injuries including broken bones.
Defence lawyer Alex Burt said her client broke his neck and was hospitalised for three months.
She said his injuries were severe, and would impact the rest of his life.
Magistrate Terry Wilson said both men were lucky to be alive.
“Quite clearly you’re not moving too well and you mightn’t move too well for the rest of your life,” Mr Wilson said.
“That might be the result of your accident and your stupid driving.
“You’ve been to a funeral and you could’ve ended up with another person deceased.”
Bee was fined $1250 with conviction, and was disqualified from driving for six months.