An unroadworthy car with bald tyres was at the centre of a serious motorway crash at Figtree last year, a court has heard.
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Appearing in Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday, Adam Ryan Robinson pleaded guilty to a charge of negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm.
The collision occurred in wet weather about 9.45am on October 31 as Robinson, travelling in a green Ford Falcon, went to merge into a southbound lane on the M1 at Figtree.
The 24-year-old failed to give way to a silver Mazda carrying two women believed aged in their 70s in the front seats.
Robinson's car collided with the Mazda's rear panel then rolled, coming to rest on its roof in the far right southbound lane.
The women's car veered right, passing through a dividing embankment, hitting a tree and rolling into the northbound lanes, landing on its side.
Robinson was able to get out of his car unaided, but the women had to be extracted by emergency services.
Robinson was arrested and taken for mandatory testing. The court heard police observed the back tyres of his car to be lacking tread.
In a police interview Robinson admitted he was aware of the problem, and conceded the car was not roadworthy.
The female driver suffered three fractured vertebrae, which require ongoing physiotherapy and treatment.
The matter returns to court on November 23.
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