Hastings learner driver jailed for drunk smash | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

A drunk, disqualified Hastings driver who rolled his car off the road, leaving a friend severely brain-damaged, has lost his bid to avoid prison.

Daniel James Bertram Bollmeyer, 20, admitted he was intoxicated when he rolled his Nissan Sentra 30m down a bank, injuring four young passengers, on Waimarama Rd in November.

All five had been drinking, and were on their way back from Waimarama to Havelock North about 2.30am when the car left the road, 4km north of Waimarama.

Bollmeyer and his 19-year-old front seat passenger were thrown from the rolling car. The rear passengers escaped with minor injuries.

The 19-year-old victim, who was studying for an EIT mechanical qualification, was flown to hospital with a subdural haematoma and broken wrist.

He turned 20 in Hawke's Bay Hospital last January, where he remains with a brain injury.

In Hastings District Court on Tuesday, Judge Bridget Mackintosh denied Bollmeyer's request to be sentenced to home detention.

His victim had a "severe brain injury" and was "still in hospital suffering," she said. "He requires 24-hour care ... he's very unlikely to ever live independently."

In a court statement, the victim's sister said she did not blame the driver, stating any of the group could have been driving.

She wanted "something positive" to come from the tragedy.

Bollmeyer's counsel, Peter Austin, claimed his client was remorseful and had experienced "shame and mortification".

He hadn't intended to drive but was considered the most sober of the group, he said.

A request to serve a sentence of home detention at his girlfriend's mother's property was opposed by probation officers, who said the address was inappropriate as the relationship was only recent.

Judge Mackintosh said the aggravating features included his previous drink-drive conviction in 2008, driving while suspended, breaching his learner's licence and the blood alcohol level of 145mg. The legal adult limit is 80mg.

"It's your own worst nightmare when you're driving your friends and one of them ends up with serious injuries," she said. "That is a burden you will carry for the rest of your life.

"Sentencing requires a deterrent element and it's important to send a message out to the community that drink-driving is unacceptable."

She remitted $6000 worth of fines and sentenced him to 18 months in prison.