OUR HIGHWAY TERROR
A CORIO man has lost his licence for 18 months after forcing a Bannockburn family off a notorious stretch of the Midland Highway.
Danny and Toni Sheedy say they’ll never forget the moment a vehicle veered into their path at Gheringhap, forcing Mr Sheedy to take evasive action that ended with the couple’s ute ploughing into a cypress tree on August 8.
“My wife, she hasn’t been able to drive since,” Mr Sheedy said.
The Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard Korean refugee La June, of Corio, had been travelling west on the Midland Highway when he made several attempts to overtake a truck, including on the left hand shoulder of the road, about 11.35am on August 8.
As June approached Gheringhap, he drove into the path of the Sheedy’s ute, forcing them off the road. June then continued to drive towards Bannockburn before being intercepted nearby later that day.
Mr and Mrs Sheedy sustained injuries to their arms, shoulders, necks and backs and were taken to Geelong hospital for treatment.
Bill Sizeland, for June, told the court his client had been living in Australia for 10 years after coming to Australia as a refugee.
“On the date of the accident he was assisting a friend who was moving house and was following his friend when a truck interposed itself between himself and his friend,” Mr Sizeland said. “He doesn’t know the road rules as well as he should due to limitations with English.
“He made the decision to drive off without rendering assistance and clearly that is a mistake.”
But police prosecutor, Leading Senior Constable Jackie Davis refuted the notion that June did not believe anyone was hurt when he drove off.
“It was only through the defensive driving skills (of Mr Sheedy) that no one was more seriously hurt,” she said.
In sentencing June, Magistrate Ann McGarvie said she was concerned about his ability to drive safely following a previous conviction in 2015 for careless driving.
Ms McGarvie cancelled June’s licence and disqualified him from driving for 18 months. June was also fined $3000 with $119.90 statutory costs after pleading guilty to dangerou s driving and failing to render assistance.
Outside court Mr Sheedy urged other motorists to keep their eyes on the road at all times. He said his family drove the same stretch of road on a regular basis and would relive the day they nearly died every time.