Killer drink driver on new charge

JOELLE DALLY | 14th May 2010

A recidivist drink driver who killed a man on Mother's Day four years ago has been charged with driving while disqualified... again.

David Graham Cashman, 70, will appear in the district court on Monday after the new charge was laid against him earlier this week.

Cashman was jailed for three years and disqualified from driving for 10 years for drink driving and killing Jonathan Keogh, 28, in a head-on crash in Rolleston in 2006.

Mr Keogh was driving home to Christchurch after attending a family Mother's Day gathering in Dunedin.

Cashman had been at a city restaurant and was returning to his former Rolleston home.

Shortly before the crash, Cashman was seen driving erratically.

He kept slowing down and then speeding up. As he approached the passing lanes north of Rolleston he moved into the right-hand lane and passed a vehicle at high speed.

He then lost control of his car and veered across the passing lane and hit Mr Keogh's car.

The impact ripped the right-hand side of Mr Keogh's car apart. He died at the scene.

Cashman's blood alcohol level was found to have been nearly twice the legal limit.

Cashman was released from prison in July 2008, but recently had his disqualification period extended after he pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified in March.

A Rolleston petrol station staff member had reported to police that Cashman had driven onto the forecourt to buy fuel.

The staff member, who drives past the crash site on their way to work, has said that Cashman used his Automobile Association card with his name on it while paying for petrol.

The Star understands the charge Cashman will face on Monday also relates to being seen at the same petrol station, about five months ago.

Cashman currently lives in Fairlie, but The Star understands he is looking to move back to the Selwyn area in the coming months.

Mr Keogh's sister, Megan McPherson, said she "felt sick" when she found out that Cashman had allegedly been driving.

She said she was concerned for the Fairlie community.

"He has thumbed his nose up at the court and thumbed his nose up at the public that share the roads with him," she said.

"He needs to be removed from the road, whatever it takes… how many chances does one person need, and how much tragedy has to happen?"

She said news of Cashman driving had taken the family back to the day of the crash.

"We all worked really hard to separate the really nice memories of Jonathan and what happened to him. Some of us were getting there," she said.

Fairlie residents spoken to by The Star knew Cashman by sight, but said he kept to himself.

Cashman could not be reached for comment.

Police would not comment on the case because it was before the courts.