An Oak Flats man has allegedly used his Holden Commodore to push a love rival’s car 300 metres along the roadway and into a metal street sign – with his startled foe still inside.
Michael John Devenish is accused of forcing a navy blue Nissan ZX turbo through two left turns and onto University Avenue at Gwynneville as his rival, Nathan Merola, tried in vain to win back control of the car.
In Wollongong Local Court on Thursday, Mr Merola said photographs taken from the crash site showed “my pride and joy – hanging off a sign”.
“[Devenish] pushed me with full force with his car revving,” Mr Merola said.
“He pushed me through the oncoming traffic … through the pedestrians that I nearly killed then through that [University Ave] roundabout and into the pole.
“I couldn’t control the vehicle with him pushing at the speed he pushed.”
Devenish has pleaded not guilty to predatory driving and not give particulars.
He has told police extensive scrape marks to the front of his white Commodore sedan predated the March 2, 2015 encounter and that he was with woman at the centre of the love rivalry when the crash occurred, about 11.25am.
Mr Merola was in a relationship with the mother of one of Devenish’s children until the day before his car crash.
He claims Devenish, 35, created an irreparable wedge between the pair by loudly declaring the woman had been sending him suggestive texts.
Mr Merola told the court he recognised Devenish’s voice when he answered a phone call later that day. The man yelled abuse and threatened “I’m gonna get you”.
He says he saw Devenish through his rear vision mirror multiple times as the March 2 confrontation unfolded. He told the court his car was forced over the University Avenue bridge and through two roundabouts before it crashed.
He said he had the opportunity to identify the Commodore driver once more when Devenish raised his middle finger in a parting salute through his open car window, before driving away from the crash site. The matter returns to court August 9.
