By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A MAN ordered by a court to create a road-safety campaign after nearly killing himself and four passengers in a drink-driving crash last year has been told that he must maintain the rage after his final sentencing in August.
Cadmiel ‘Tibby’ Duscas, of Noble Park, had been challenged in court by Dandenong Magistrate Greg Connellan in October – in lieu of a lengthy jail term – to use social media and visit schools to spread a salutary warning to young people.
On Monday, Duscas gave a progress report to Magistrate Connellan, telling him there were plans for a road-safety community barbecue promoted by a Lions Club branch in Jells Park, Wheelers Hill.
His Facebook page Our Second Chance – Almost Fatality to Reality – comprising graphic drink-driving illustrations and videos and Duscas and his passengers’ account of the crash and their injuries – had got a “fair bit of traffic”, he said.
As of last week, the page had accumulated 866 likes.
Duscas told the court he could be visiting schools such as Carwatha College, Noble Park, as soon as this year, bringing in ‘beer goggles’ that replicate alcohol-induced impairment as well as possibly a police-supplied video of the scene soon after his near-fatal crash.
“I can’t just go in and preach. I have to make it hands-on,” he said.
Magistrate Connellan told Duscas of his own chance meeting with drama teachers who were interested in creating a school production “around these issues”.
Duscas replied he would be interested in being part of such a concept.
The magistrate said he wanted documentary evidence of Duscas’s campaign before finalising his sentence in August – just prior to suspended sentences ceasing as an option.
“I’ll impose a suspended sentence for most of the charges and require an undertaking to continue what you’re doing.”
In October, Mr Connellan had banned Duscas from driving for four years and deferred further sentencing – including a possible jail term of more than 10 years – for driving under the influence and negligently causing serious injury to his four passengers.
