A former high-achieving school captain has been sentenced to four years imprisonment, suspended after ten months, over a fatal crash on Old Gympie Road that claimed the life of a British tourist and seriously injured his friend.
Joshua David Halverson, 33, appeared in Brisbane District Court on Tuesday where he was sentenced for dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm following the May 21, 2023 incident near Burpengary.
The court heard that British tourist Darren Wright was killed and his friend Matthew Jennings suffered severe injuries when Halverson’s vehicle crossed into the oncoming lane, striking two of three motorcyclists who were returning from a day ride through the hinterland.
According to court proceedings, Halverson failed to notice a vehicle ahead slowing as the speed limit changed from 80 km/h to 60 km/h. When he realised the danger, he braked hard but swerved across solid white lines into oncoming traffic to avoid a rear-end collision.
Mr Wright died at the scene, whilst Mr Jennings sustained what the court described as “horrific injuries” requiring surgery and years of rehabilitation. A third motorcyclist, Neil Mendham, narrowly escaped being struck.
In his victim impact statement read to the court, Mr Jennings described how the three friends had spent the day exploring the scenic hinterland on their motorcycles. He told the court that Mr Wright had said it was one of the best days of his Australian trip just hours before the crash.
The court was told that Halverson had an extensive driving record, accumulating 53 traffic offences since 2010, primarily for speeding. He had received enough demerit points to be suspended on eight occasions, though had no previous dangerous driving charges.
Crown prosecutor Toby Corsbie argued that given Halverson’s driving history, such an incident was inevitable.
Judge Michael Burnett was critical of Halverson’s driving record during sentencing, noting his “complete disregard for the welfare of other road users” and describing his speeding violations as “beyond a joke”.
The court heard that Halverson had struggled with drug addiction following a 2016 incident where three people died at a music festival he was involved in running. His barrister, Marin Longhurst from Sibley Lawyers, told the court his client had transformed from a successful businessman to someone using 1.5 grams of ice daily.
While methamphetamine was found in Halverson’s system, he was not deemed to be under its influence at the time of the crash, the court heard.
Judge Burnett found that whilst the offending was more than momentary inattention, it was not significantly greater. He noted that Halverson’s decision to revoke his own bail and begin serving his sentence early in the year demonstrated genuine remorse.
Halverson was sentenced to four years imprisonment suspended after ten months, followed by three years parole. He has been permanently disqualified from holding a driver’s licence, with 47 days of pre-sentence custody counted as time served.
Outside court, Mr Jennings expressed disappointment with the sentence, stating that ten months imprisonment did not reflect the severity of the crimes and their lasting impact.
The crash occurred on a stretch of Old Gympie Road known to locals as a transition zone where speed limits change, highlighting ongoing road safety concerns in the Burpengary area.
Published 15-July-2025
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