Man rolls ‘stolen’ ute on way to front court

A 40-year-old Perth man remarkably walked away from this crash uninjured in Kendenup after losing control of the allegedly stolen vehicle he was driving to a scheduled court appearance in Albany.

Wilson man Rowan Angelo Franz Mildred was due to appear at Albany Magistrate’s Court last Thursday morning to face a string of charges including two counts of aggravated burglary, possession of amphetamine and two counts of stealing a motor vehicle.

The court heard Mr Mildred could not appear because he had been involved in a “rollover”.

Police were called to a crash on the Albany Highway near Kendenup about 7.50am on Thursday, where Mr Mildred had rolled a Toyota utility.

Other motorists stopped to help him out of the wreckage.

He emerged unhurt despite his height — about 190cm — and the cab’s crumpled state.

Mr Mildred was arrested at the scene and later charged with careless driving and no authority to drive.

He was also charged over an alleged fuel drive-off in Kojonup.

Senior Constable Ken Brown from Mt Barker police said “everyone was shocked” that the driver was not hurt.

He said the ute struck two trees, snapping the chassis rails and separating the tray, then flipped on to its roof.

“He’s fine. He hasn’t got a scratch on him,” Sen. Const Brown said. “It’s up there with one of the worst (wrecks) I’ve ever seen. To walk out of that without a scratch is just amazing.

“We jumped out and asked if anyone had checked on the driver and he said, ‘Oh, I am the driver’.”

Mr Mildred allegedly told police he was on his way to court, the ute was stolen and he had fallen asleep at the wheel.

He was later blood-tested.

It is understood the owner of the ute is not pressing charges.