Ezra Mam was driving his car when it collided with an Uber in Bardon, west of Brisbane, on October 18. (AAP: Russell Freeman)
Brisbane Broncos star Ezra Mumm has been fined and disqualified from driving after a head-on collision while taking a combination of drugs including cocaine.
The 21-year-old pleaded guilty in Brisbane Magistrates Court to one count of driving with drugs in the blood and driving without a licence.
Mam was driving his car when it collided with an Uber at Barton, west of Brisbane, on October 18.
Two people in the car, a child and a woman, suffered minor injuries.
Mumm failed a roadside drug test at the crash scene and then underwent a second drug test at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.
Mam was fined $850 and had his licence suspended for at least six months. (AAP: James Gourley)
Soon after, he entered rehab for four weeks and received psychological counseling for a year.
He was fined $850 and had his driver’s license suspended for at least six months, but has no criminal record.
‘I am truly sorry’
Accompanied by a team of lawyers, Mame issued an extensive apology outside court and pledged to make changes.
He said: “Today is an important step for me to take responsibility for my actions and begin to right the wrongs.
“I am deeply sorry to those involved in the accident.
“This incident does not reflect who I want to be or what people expect of me as a role model.
“I am deeply sorry to the NRL, the Brisbane Broncos, the fans and my family.
“I promise to work hard to become a better person and represent the club and the sport I love.”
Mams’ media rep said he will call both victims this afternoon to apologize personally and see if they can meet in person.
The Broncos made contact with both men shortly after the accident.
‘Stupid decision’
Magistrate Mark Nolan said Mam’s decision to drive was “foolish” and put his own life and the lives of others at risk.
He said he was lucky to be in his shoes and pleaded with him to learn from his actions.
“There is no place for illegal drugs in our community, and certainly no place for people who are under the influence of illegal drugs to drive,” he said.
“You have to learn from it.”
Mam said outside court that he was “deeply sorry.” (AP Photo/David Becker)
He took into account the punishment resulting from his limited traffic record, his early guilty plea and media coverage.
Investigations into the incident by the NRL and the Broncos are ongoing.
The Broncos declined to comment for this story.