Stephen John O’Brien appeared for sentencing in Albury Local Court yesterday on a charge of high-range drink-driving after the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Magistrate Tony Murray imposed the intensive corrections order along with a three-year driving ban and ordered O’Brien to attend alcohol counselling.

Solicitor Jason Hanke said O’Brien, 33, of Alldis Avenue, has been attending counselling and wants to continue with it.

The court had previously been told O’Brien was $40,000 out of pocket and lucky to be alive after crashing his vehicle into a B-double truck.

O’Brien was trapped in his vehicle after ramming into the front of the truck despite desperate efforts by its driver to avoid a collision.

Witnesses and the truck driver went to O’Brien’s aid as fluids leaked from his ute and there was a strong smell of fuel.

They managed to force open his door and free him as police and ambulance officers rushed to the scene about 10pm on September 9.

He had cuts and bruises and was taken to the Albury hospital.

A blood sample taken at the time gave an alcohol reading of 0.204.

Mr Hanke said O’Brien was hospitalised for three days with bruising from “head to toe”.

His $7000 vehicle was a writeoff and he faces a $33,000 compensation bill for damage to the truck.

“He has expressed deep remorse for his offending,” Mr Hanke said.

“This is a massive wake-up call for my client.”

O’Brien was drinking at the Kinross Hotel before attempting to drive home in heavy rain and had the accident on the Thurgoona overpass of the Hume Freeway.

He lost control at a roundabout, crossed to the wrong side of the road and the truck driver swerved as far left as possible in a bid to avoid an accident.

Mr Murray said it was O’Brien’s fifth drink-driving matter in a short time.