Jail for drug-fuelled crash into five cars

The wrecked cars blocked traffic in Dominion Rd. Photo / Steven McNicholl

A 36-year-old man who crashed into five cars while speeding on Auckland's busy Dominion Rd was high on cannabis and pills, feeling "like he just won lotto".

Sickness beneficiary Danny Kasipale was jailed for two months and disqualified from driving for nine after pleading guilty at the Manukau District Court this week to charges of dangerous driving and driving under the influence of drugs.

Kasipale was seen travelling at 100km/h on Dominion Rd on December 9 as he tried to pass a slower moving Nissan Maxima.

He collided with it and a Toyota, as well as a Holden that was parked on the side of the road. The impact shunted it on to the footpath.

Police evidence said another driver saw she was about to be hit and drove on to the footpath to avoid him.

Kasipale then collected a fourth car before hitting a parked Mazda.

After the collisions, Kasipale made no effort to find out if any of the drivers were all right. He was helped from his car by members of the public who held him at the scene.

Bystanders said he appeared "vacant" and was sweating profusely, crying and talking in a low voice.

When questioned by police, Kasipale admitted smoking cannabis before driving and taking anti-depressant medication and pain killers, despite having been warned of the dangers by his doctor.

"[Kasipale] stated he felt like he'd just won the lotto and he floored it," the court summary said. "He admitted to driving in excess of 100km/h and crossing on to the wrong side of Dominion Rd on several occasions."

But he claimed not to remember the multiple collisions.