Joshua Lee Myers avoids jail time after Kwinana freeway crash

A 26-year-old man has avoided jail after a crash on the Kwinana Freeway that significantly injured another man. Joshua Lee Myers pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death, grievous bodily harm or bodily harm, driving with prescribed illicit drug in oral fluid or blood and one count no authority to drive. Police prosecutor Sergeant Sean Bailey told Rockingham Magistrates Court on Friday that Myers was driving behind the victim on December 16 along Kwinana Freeway when he blacked out and rear-ended the victim’s car. Myers was not permitted to drive at the time of the incident due to outstanding fines. Police and emergency services attended the scene and the victim was taken to Royal Perth Hospital, where they were treated for soft tissue injuries and spine and shoulder injuries. “He chose to drive unwell, he caused the victim to sustain a serious back injury,” Sgt Bailey said. Magistrate Janelle Scutt said the ongoing pain inflicted on the victim would affect his confidence as a driver and that Myers displayed a lack of duty of care. “Driving on a road under the conditions at night after it had been raining can have devastating consequences to the victims involved,” Ms Scutt said. Myers was sentenced to a 12-month community-based order.