By Rodney Stevens
Expert medical evidence could determine the fate of a man who was allegedly high on ice and cannabis when he was involved in a fatal head-on crash near Broadwater in 2015.
Steven Mark Farquhar was driving a white Isuzu D-Max south on the Pacific Highway about 9.30am on July 7, when police allege he collided with a northbound white Toyota Kluger, containing five people.
Back seat passenger in the Toyota, Saroja Basavaraj, aged in her late 60s, was killed in the crash.
The four other people in the Toyota,Lakshmi, Suresh, Shivali and Sidharth Bangalore, were all seriously injured.
Farquhar, from the Brisbane suburb of Bellbird Park, was taken to Lismore Base Hospital where mandatory blood tests were conducted and fractures to his feet, suffered in the crash, were treated.
The 33-year-old was subsequently charged with 13 offences including negligent driving occasioning death, dangerous driving occasioning death, three counts of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm while under the influence and negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm.
Currently on bail, Farquhar was excused from appearing at Lismore Local Court today, but he was represented by barrister Megan Cusack, on behalf of barrister Peter O’Connor.
The court crucial evidence from Forensic Pathologist Dr Judith Perl would form part of the case.
Magistrate Michael Dakin adjourned Farquhar’s matters until April 26, when Dr Perl will appear via video-link.
