Vanuatu man drunk when partner killed in crash, court told

A man has been charged with causing the death of his girlfriend in a car crash on a notorious country road, with the court hearing that the man's blood alcohol level was at least three times the legal limit at the time of the incident. The accident occurred on the evening of February 9th, resulting in the tragic death of a 42-year-old mother.

The man, named Rolon Stanley, 30, from Vanuatu, faces a series of serious charges related to the fatal car crash on Lake Canobolas Road, near Orange in the Central West of New South Wales, Australia. Stanley's pickup truck veered off the narrow, winding road and crashed into a tree, resulting in the immediate death of his partner, Justine Hammond.

Stanley himself sustained serious injuries and had to be rescued from the wreckage. He has been charged with five offenses, including negligent driving occasioning death and contravening an apprehended violence order. Police have recently added two new charges: dangerous driving occasioning death and driving with a high-range blood alcohol content. According to court documents, Stanley's blood alcohol content was at least 0.15, marking the second time he has been charged with the offense.

Stanley's Legal Aid lawyer, Ken Lambeth, stated that he did not appear in court and that there were difficulties in finding a Bislama translator. "I have made several attempts to speak with my client in custody… but for various reasons, it has not been successful," Mr. Lambeth said, "I apologize that I am unable to take instructions today." Magistrate Gary Wilson ordered that a brief of evidence be filed by May 15th.

In remembrance of Ms. Hammond, flowers, a panda statue, and a dreamcatcher ornament have been placed at the accident site. Ms. Hammond's employer in Orange described her as an "amazing" team member shortly after the accident. "We are all grieving such a huge loss," a post from Snowgums Property Services read, "Rest in Peace, Justine. We love you and miss you. Now and forever."

Local residents have long been concerned about the safety of the road, which runs through a busy recreational lake and several wineries. Transport for NSW lowered the speed limit from 80km/h to 70km/h in late February after assessing the crash history, road usage, and surrounding environment. This change was a response to concerns raised by residents in 2024. Stanley remains in custody, and his case will be mentioned again in eight weeks.