A DRINK-DRIVER who crashed at more than 200km/h, killing his passenger, has his licence back – more than five years after the crash.
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Wodonga man Ewan Leigh Hamilton had a blood alcohol reading as high as 0.128 when he lost control of his V8 station wagon on December 21, 2011.
He had been drinking at the Dooen Hotel and his passenger, Horsham woman Sally Trethowan, had asked him for a ride in his car.
He slid off the Henty Highway on a bend and the vehicle ended up in a wheat paddock.
Hamilton initially told officers he “only had a few drinks” and was travelling about 100km/h, but a police reconstruction put his speed at 204km/h.
He appeared in Wodonga Magistrates Court on Tuesday and successfully applied to have his licence returned.
Hamilton has been working with the Cool Heads road safety program, which educates young drivers on the consequences of road trauma.
He was released from jail about six months ago after being sentenced in Horsham Magistrates Court on April 30, 2013 to a minimum three-and-a-half years behind bars.
His licence was cancelled for four years, which meant he only recently became eligible to have it reinstated by magistrate David Faram.
At the time he was sentenced, aged 29, Judge Damian Murphy said it would have taken Hamilton a lengthy amount of time to reach the speed.
“Your conduct has had a devastating impact on the immediate family of Ms Trethowan, the extended family and on her friends,” he said.
“The court cannot bring her back, but her loss and its impact must be and is recognised.
“I was moved by the victim impact statement bravely and poignantly read by her sister, Ms Kristy Thomas, on her own behalf and on behalf of her parents.
“Your conduct has created an unfillable gap in a close knit happy family.”
Despite crashing at high speed, Hamilton was able to pull himself out of the wreck.
The judge had noted during his sentencing his car had “ended up in a wheat field, totally written off, parts everywhere”.
Ms Trethowan was trapped in the car and had to be removed by emergency workers.
She was later pronounced dead at Horsham hospital.
Hamilton had lived at Horsham at the time but now lives in Wodonga.
He hasn't drunk alcohol since the fatal crash.