Errol Douglas Williams: Katanning man jailed for nearly two years after drug-fuelled highway crash

A Katanning man with a “dreadful” criminal record who swerved into oncoming traffic and crashed head-on into another driver has been jailed. Errol Douglas Williams was sentenced in Albany Magistrates Court on Thursday for no authority to drive, driving under drug impairment, and aggravated dangerous driving causing bodily harm. The 32-year-old pleaded guilty to no authority to drive and driving under drug impairment on October 1, and pleaded guilty to aggravated dangerous driving causing bodily harm on January 4. Williams was driving north along Great Southern Highway, near Wagin, on June 12, 2024, under the influence of methamphetamine and amphetamine when he swerved into oncoming traffic. His Toyota Camry crashed into the front of a van, causing $15,000 damage and writing it off, and causing injuries to the victim and himself. The two crash survivors were taken to Narrogin Health Service, with the victim still suffering pain and tinnitus after the crash. Williams had been disqualified from driving for the seventh time in 2022 in the Armadale Magistrates Court. Williams’ lawyer Lucy Bourne said her client did not recall the crash and was not thinking after learning his sister was being hospitalised. Ms Bourne said her client suffered from anxiety, flashbacks and panic attacks because of the crash and he did not mean to hurt anyone. She said prior to the crash her client, who was on the way to Perth, had actively avoided being in cars and admitted he should not have been driving. Ms Bourne asked Magistrate Erin O’Donnell to consider a conditional suspended imprisonment order. Police prosecutor Sgt Dylan Fisher said the no authority to drive conviction was Williams’ seventh offence and the crash had had a “substantial impact” on the victim. He said Williams should not have been on the road and he had a history of non-compliance with court orders, making it “difficult to envision” any orders that could prevent him from re-offending. Ms O’Donnell said a hand-written letter by Williams demonstrated a clear and great deal of remorse for the crash, but the point of imprisonment had been reached for Williams who had a “fairly lengthy” and “dreadful” record. She said a pre-sentence report outlined his poor compliance on orders and his previous promises to do anything to fulfill the order but then failing to comply. Ms O’Donnell said imprisonment was the only “realistic” outcome and jailed Williams for 22 months, backdated to December 11 for time spent in custody. Williams was disqualified from driving again for 40 months and ordered to pay $2000 in fines and $300.50 in costs.