A motorist who wrote off two utes after a 3am collision in Warrnambool says he had a "sneezing fit" behind the wheel.
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Matt Vankempen, 27, of Morriss Road, Warrnambool, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court to careless driving and failing to exchange names and addresses.
He told the court the incident had cost him more than $40,000 because his car insurance had run out just two days prior.
It was the second time Vankempen was charged with careless driving, after he crashed another ute in January, 2010.
In sentencing, magistrate Mark Stratmann said he had considered the offender's criminal history and the costs incurred from the collision.
He disqualified Vankempen's licence for three months, ordered he do a safe driving course and imposed a $1200 fine.
On November 11 the victim was inside his Morriss Road property when he heard a large crash at 3.10am.
He went outside to find his white Toyota Hilux had been hit, causing extensive damage.
A silver fender (a frame around the wheel well) was left behind by the offender.
The victim rang police and followed a fresh fluid trail to the offender's home.
Vankempen was not home at the time. His silver Toyota Hilux was also extensively damaged.
He attended the Warrnambool police station by appointment on December 14.
He told police he had a "sneezing fit" and woke up at a friend's house at 5.30am with no memory of the event.
Vankempen told the court he took prescribed medication for hay fever on a daily basis but could not remember the name of the drug.
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