November 19, 2025
A Willowby man, who drove into a power pole while intoxicated, is lucky to be alive.
Kaeleb Russell Evans, 20, crashed into a power pole and “has the scars” prove it, Magistrate Sally O’Brien said at the Ashburton District Court, though his exact injuries were not shared with the court.
A blood test, taken four hours after the crash, produced an alcohol level of 127 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood, well over the legal limit of 50.
At a previous appearance, Evans and his mother had intended to take the Right Track driving programme to mitigate his sentence.
“They weren’t able to make that [the Right Track] work for themselves,” lawyer Clare Yardley said.
“[But] they did a programme, a local programme, for driving-advanced driving skills in the interim.”
Evans’ high alcohol reading meant the alcohol interlock sentence would apply, which meant paying for an interlock device to be installed in his car for the next year.
“His mother’s concerned about the interlock, as she’d thought it wouldn’t apply,” Yardley said.
“I pointed out the pros, but I can see there are cons with the cost.”
Interlock installation and removal fees can sit around $130 each, and there were monthly maintenance costs, though people can apply for these to be subsidised.
“He’s a young man who is quite modest and shy,” Yardley said. “He feels more than sorrow and guilt about what happened here.
“He’s got the full support of his mother, and she’s a very sensible, down-to-earth person.”
There had been no damage to the power pole, she said.
“That’s lucky, they can be very expensive,” Magistrate O’Brien said.
She said Evans was “incredibly lucky” not to have suffered worse in the crash.
“The point at which you hit that power pole, [your blood] alcohol level was likely higher.
“It’s certainly been a big wake up call for you.”
Despite the situation, she said Evans had done a lot to “mitigate some of the consequences of your offending”.
“The alcohol interlock device is expensive, so bearing in mind the work that you have done, I am only imposing a $300 fine.
“The purpose of this sentence is, firstly, to make sure the public is safe but also to help retrain your brain.”
Evans will be disqualified from driving for 28 days and must then get an alcohol interlock device fitted into his vehicle.
He must drive with that for a year, and for three years after he must operate on a zero-alcohol licence.
As well as paying for the interlock, Evans must pay a $300 fine, cover court costs and the costs of the blood alcohol test.
by Anisha Satya
A Willowby man, who drove into a power pole while intoxicated, is lucky to be alive.
Kaeleb Russell Evans, 20, crashed into a power pole and “has the scars” prove it, Magistrate Sally O’Brien said at the Ashburton District Court, though his exact injuries were not shared with the court.
A blood test, taken four hours after the crash, produced an alcohol level of 127 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood, well over the legal limit of 50.
At a previous appearance, Evans and his mother had intended to take the Right Track driving programme to mitigate his sentence.
“They weren’t able to make that [the Right Track] work for themselves,” lawyer Clare Yardley said.
“[But] they did a programme, a local programme, for driving-advanced driving skills in the interim.”
Evans’ high alcohol reading meant the alcohol interlock sentence would apply, which meant paying for an interlock device to be installed in his car for the next year.
“His mother’s concerned about the interlock, as she’d thought it wouldn’t apply,” Yardley said.
“I pointed out the pros, but I can see there are cons with the cost.”
Interlock installation and removal fees can sit around $130 each, and there were monthly maintenance costs, though people can apply for these to be subsidised.
“He’s a young man who is quite modest and shy,” Yardley said. “He feels more than sorrow and guilt about what happened here.
“He’s got the full support of his mother, and she’s a very sensible, down-to-earth person.”
There had been no damage to the power pole, she said.
“That’s lucky, they can be very expensive,” Magistrate O’Brien said.
She said Evans was “incredibly lucky” not to have suffered worse in the crash.
“The point at which you hit that power pole, [your blood] alcohol level was likely higher.
“It’s certainly been a big wake up call for you.”
Despite the situation, she said Evans had done a lot to “mitigate some of the consequences of your offending”.
“The alcohol interlock device is expensive, so bearing in mind the work that you have done, I am only imposing a $300 fine.
“The purpose of this sentence is, firstly, to make sure the public is safe but also to help retrain your brain.”
Evans will be disqualified from driving for 28 days and must then get an alcohol interlock device fitted into his vehicle.
He must drive with that for a year, and for three years after he must operate on a zero-alcohol licence.
As well as paying for the interlock, Evans must pay a $300 fine, cover court costs and the costs of the blood alcohol test.
by Anisha Satya
