A woman who crashed into two motorcyclists in Melbourne 18 months ago has finally received a $1000 fine, one-month driving suspension and no conviction recorded.
The investigating officer of Footscray Police says the penalty on the charge of failing to give way to all traffic at a give way sign was “pretty shit”.
The crash on Raleigh Road, Maribyrnong, on Sunday, July 17, 2016, was caught on dash cam video.
It shows 23-year-old female driver Samuel Tesfay Berhe in a Toyota Camry failing to give way, crossing stationary traffic and hitting two riders heading in the opposite direction.
Riders Steve Caruana, 43, suffered a broken pelvis and lost his left testicle while riding partner Marc Logan, 38, a broken right leg, left foot and right hand.
Steve and Marc in hospitalBoth are still recovering from their injuries.
Steve says he was asked to provide an victim impact statement, but it is not known whether it was read out in court.
He says he has lost his job in the construction industry as a result of his injuries.
“I’m absolutely devastated that this accident has destroyed my career because I was supporting my family and without a job in the construction industry life will be a constant struggle with money,” he says.
“Even now with the TAC payments, we are slowly falling behind on living expenses every week; hard when your payments are just under half your regular wage.”
Steve says the fine is “absolute bullshit”.
“I’ve copped more from speeding fines and didn’t endanger anyone’s life,” he says.
“I’m pretty pissed off that’s for sure.”
The arresting officer told us he wasn’t even notified of the woman’s appearance in Sunshine Magistrates Court last week because it was a traffic matter and not a criminal charge.
For those interested in the progress of this story over the past 18 months, click on the links below.