Bail refused for man who allegedly 'could have claimed lives' in car crash

Darin Paul Keir, 43, has been refused bail over two alleged reckless driving incidents. Photo: LinkedIn.

A man “could have claimed lives” when he allegedly caused a car crash that resulted in his vehicle, in which his partner was also said to be travelling, ending up on its roof down an embankment.

Darin Paul Keir ended up in hospital after the alleged incident on Wednesday (15 March).

The ACT Magistrates Court heard it was alleged the 43-year-old had been driving a Dodge Journey erratically on the Tuggeranong Parkway near the National Arboretum shortly before 7 o’clock that morning.

His car allegedly had near misses with other motorists before it hit a light pole, spun, then flipped onto its roof down an embankment.

Keir was found on the ground outside it along with his partner, who had apparently been a passenger in the car, and was taken to hospital due to his injuries.

He is also accused of being involved in an incident at the Coles Shell Express in Belconnen on 11 March.

It is alleged he was driving a BMW when he parked at a petrol bowser, then when police tried to stop him, he reversed at high speed and crashed into a beam in the petrol pump area, causing water to escape, then drove off at speed.

The Queanbeyan man was handed two counts of driving recklessly and damaging property, three counts of driving while disqualified and one count of failing to stop for police.

He applied to be released on bail, with his lawyer saying he worked in a maintenance job and helped his father fix gearboxes at his father’s business.

The lawyer also said the father-of-two claimed he doesn’t engage in the same social circles as he once did and had tried to remove himself from those circles.

Prosecutor Mark Wadsworth, who opposed bail, claimed the accident Keir is accused of causing “could have claimed lives” and his partner could have been killed in the crash.

He also pointed out Keir’s lengthy criminal history, which included seven counts of driving while disqualified.

Magistrate Robert Cook ultimately said he was not satisfied with what bail conditions could be put in place and refused bail.

Keir scoffed at the decision, remarking, “It’s bulls-t”. The matter was adjourned to 6 April.