Victim questions driver
A VIETNAM veteran who put a motorcyclist in a coma for five weeks after an horrific crash yesterday walked from court with no jail time.
Joseph Anthony Pearson, 69, was distracted by a B-double truck behind him and on the wrong side of the road when he hit rider Craig Young.
The crash near the Molendinar dump about 1pm on December 18, 2017 left Mr Young, 45, with major injuries including fractures to his legs, arm and ribs.
He was in a coma for five weeks, hospitalised for six months, is unable to return to his job as a spray painter, has difficulties walking and is unable to play sport.
While in hospital Mr Young had seven surgeries to fix his injuries.
Pearson was sentenced yesterday to 18 months in prison, immediately suspended, after he pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing grievous bodily harm.
Crown prosecutor Matthew Hynes said Pearson was driving along Herbertson Dr, Molendinar when he became distracted by a B-double truck behind him for about five seconds as he tried to turn on to Jacobs Rd.
Pearson moved into the wrong lane and collided head on with Mr Young who was riding his motorbike in the opposite direction.
Mr Hynes said Pearson immediately started to give CPR and first aid to Mr Young and called emergency services.
In his victim impact statement tendered to the court, Mr Young had one question for Pearson.
“Why did you do what you did?” he said.
“You’ve taken my life from me, and for what, so you could get to where you were going faster?
“I hope that is a question that haunts you for the rest of your life, because it’s the same question that haunts me every day, and it will be for the rest of my life. Why?”
Mr Young said he did not like to go out anymore and felt embarrassed because he was “still not back to normal”.
“People look at me strange like there’s something wrong with me because I can’t walk properly. I’d just rather stay at home because I hate relying on people all the time.”
Mr Young said he suffered from depression and due to the injuries he would be unable to return to his job as a spray painter.
Judge Paul Smith also banned Pearson from driving for two years and ordered he pay $5000 in compensation.
Pearson’s lawyer Michael McMillan said Pearson was distracted by the truck.
He said as soon as it happened, Pearson rushed to help Mr Young.
The court was told the crash left him with mobility issues and industrial deafness.
Pearson declined to comment.