A METH-affected driver who was behind the wheel during a crash which killed a young Evanston man will spend at least two years and nine months in prison.

Shane Zelenko was killed when the work vehicle he was travelling in, driven by Tanunda man David Edward Goddard, collided with a tree on Murray Street, Tanunda, in the early hours of July 27,
2017.

Goddard faced the Adelaide District Court last Tuesday after pleading guilty to aggravated death by dangerous driving, with the offence becoming ‘aggravated’ due to 6.2mg of methylamphetamine being in Goddard’s body at the time of the crash.

Judge Joanne Tracey sentenced Goddard to three-and a-half years in prison, with a non-parole period of two years and nine months.

Judge Tracey said Mr Zelenko’s mother Joanne Wynne had struggled to “put the loss of her son in to words”.

“She (Mrs Wynne) described the overwhelming pain and grief she has suffered in her son being absent from her life and the struggle to go on without him,” she said.

“She has watched her family fall apart with Shane’s sister struggling with the loss of their little brother.

“There is no doubt that Mr Zelenko was a much loved person who had a lot to live for.

“He was only young, had a partner and was looking forward to fulfilling all the plans that he and his partner had made.

“Clearly, from what I have been told by his family and friends, there is profound grief and lives have been shattered by his tragic and unnecessary death.”

The court heard Mr Zelenko and Goddard, who employed the victim at his demolition business, were returning from a job on the Yorke Peninsula when they reached Tanunda in Goddard’s
work vehicle, which was carrying asbestos.

Judge Tracey described how Goddard drove erratically in the lead up to the accident, before he turned towards Murray Street, lost control and collided with a tree.

Goddard initially told police Mr Zelenko was the driver of the car, before later telling doctors at the Royal Adelaide Hospital he was behind the wheel.

He also denied ever using drugs, despite a statement to police from another workmate, Thomas McLennan, that he had been using meth in the days leading up to the crash.

Goddard’s doctors made a bid for his rehabilitation to be served in the community, but Judge Tracey found the prison system would be sufficient to cater to Goddard’s “complex” health issues.

The health issues included an acquired brain injury, psychological problems and short term memory problems.

“While home detention is considered suitable, the seriousness of your offending and the need for general deterrence in matters such as this where the offence is aggravated by drug use, outweigh other factors including your personal circumstances,” Judge Tracey said.