Truckie jailed for fatal crash

Truck ran into the back of 4WD

‘‘ I WAS GOING THROUGH THE SCHOOL ZONE, LOOKED AWAY FOR A MOMENT, THEN LOOKED BACK AND THE CAR WAS IN FRONT... I COULDN’T STOP.

TRUCK DRIVER JEREMY JOHN TWISTON WILLIAMS

A TRUCK driver who crashed into a car on Toowoomba’s outskirts that led to a man being killed has been jailed for two years.

Jeremy John Twiston Williams had been driving a truck near the Vale View State School about 3.25pm, February 13, last year, when his truck crashed into the back of a Nissan 4WD in the 80kmh zone near the Drayton Connection Road/Newman Road intersection.

Both vehicles were headed in the same direction.

“I was going through the school zone, looked away for a moment, then looked back and the car was in front... I couldn’t stop,” the 37-year-old was quoted as telling police soon after the crash, Toowoomba District Court heard.

The 4WD is believed to have turned onto Drayton Connection Road in front of the truck which slammed into the back of the vehicle.

The car was propelled forward into oncoming traffic.

However, police investigations found that speed was not a factor.

A passenger in the vehicle, Peter Brady, died on impact having suffered serious head and chest injuries, the court heard.

Williams had called 000 but Mr Brady was declared dead at the scene.

The woman driver, Mr Brady’s partner, survived the crash, the court heard.

Before a packed District Court Williams pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death.

Judge Deborah Richards sentenced Williams to two years in jail but ordered he be released on parole after having served three months on December 11.