Drag racing P-plater jailed over death

[Torquative]

Drag racing P-plater jailed over death
Two drag racing P-platers jailed over the death of a woman on a Melbourne street should feel shamed and disgraced, a judge said.

Medical receptionist Sharn Kelly, 25, was killed when her car was hit at high speed by Adrian Kevin Roast in Sydney Road, Campbellfield, in December 2005.

Roast had never met his drag racing partner Shaun Ian Guthridge before the pair began their duel at a set of traffic lights.

The Victorian County Court heard the pair was swerving in and out of traffic when Roast's car, travelling at about 120km/h in an 80km/h zone, cannoned into Ms Kelly's turning vehicle.

Roast, 21, of Wallan, was jailed for three years. He must serve at least two years in prison.

Guthridge, 21, of Wodonga, who was also found guilty of failing to stop after an accident and failing to render assistance, was sentenced to three and a half years prison and will be eligible for parole in two and a half years.

The court heard after the crash Guthridge, who is the father of a one-year-old child, drove home to Wodonga, where he spoke to police.

In sentencing, Judge Tony Howard said the pair's actions took the life of a vibrant young woman, who was planning to marry her Irish boyfriend, and on the threshold of a fulfilling life.

"On behalf of the community I strongly denounce your conduct," Judge Howard said.

"Both of you should feel a great deal of shame and disgrace for the death of Sharn Kelly."

He said they engaged in dangerous, calculated and enduring offending.

Judge Howard said the pair failed to keep a proper lookout throughout the race, had they done so they would have seen Ms Kelly's vehicle.

He rejected suggestions Guthridge was less culpable because he did not strike Ms Kelly's car.

"Mr Guthridge still fails to gasp the dangers of speeding," he said.

Guthridge, who since the crash has committed a further four traffic offences including speeding at between 15-25km/h over the speed limit a little over a month after the crash, has had his licence disqualified for four years.

Roast is disqualified from driving for one year from the day he leaves prison.

I say good, its about time. Stories like this reflect bad on us, I know JCCC NSW have copped a battering from the public and we dont do anything wrong, but put together a group of Commodores and ... well ... you do the math

On that topic theres also the story in NSW about those 2 that were street racing Commodores in St Marys and killed an elderly couple. One pleaded guilty to manslaugter and street racing, the other still denies he was racing but was found guilty as well.

Its annoying trying to run a law abiding Commodore group with news stories like this, but its good to see the justice systems working because I dont see why we should all be made to suffer for the few jerks who try to ruin it for us.

[STEALTHY™]

Another media hype.


Once again we see someone killed because they don't know how to drive. 120 is that different from 80, she should've seen the cars on the road and not pulled out....but ohwell.


The justice system isn't working, Drunk drivers get less for killing people....

[Ripcell]

Another media hype.

Once again we see someone killed because they don't know how to drive. 120 is that different from 80, she should've seen the cars on the road and not pulled out....but ohwell.

fair go, you cant tell if someone is doing 40 over the limit or not and know that the distance that would usually be safe to pull out in isnt a good enough gap in this case, these dip****s are at fault simple as that. in fact they should have been done for manslaughter and copped at least 8 years each.

[CSP]

They should thank themselves lucky I wasn't the judge. They would have received a lot longer in GAOL (why the bloody hell can't the Australian media spell?!) than they got.

[sixshooter]

Another media hype.


Once again we see someone killed because they don't know how to drive. 120 is that different from 80, she should've seen the cars on the road and not pulled out....but ohwell.


The justice system isn't working, Drunk drivers get less for killing people....

Who can't drive the P-Platers or the woman... ?

[albert5268]

They would have received a lot longer in GAOL (why the bloody hell can't the Australian media spell?!) than they got.

They never said jail... or gaol! Anyway its not the 1600s anymore so we spell it jail

[minux]

Another media hype.


Once again we see someone killed because they don't know how to drive. 120 is that different from 80, she should've seen the cars on the road and not pulled out....but ohwell.


The justice system isn't working, Drunk drivers get less for killing people....

Oh what a great comment. Yes we should watch for rampaging idiots changing lanes rapdily while doing in excess of 40 km/h over the speed limit. Whats next you will say people who get shot are killed because they stood in front of a gun?

The only people in the wrong here are the ****ing idiot drivers who were acting like ****wits. These are the same ****wits who continually **** **** up for everyone else. There is no difference here for the 2.5 years they will serve to any drunk driver, these ****wits killed someone due to their idiocy, they deserve more than 2.5 years.

[Tom_1569]

Oh what a great comment. Yes we should watch for rampaging idiots changing lanes rapdily while doing in excess of 40 km/h over the speed limit. Whats next you will say people who get shot are killed because they stood in front of a gun?

The only people in the wrong here are the ****ing idiot drivers who were acting like ****wits. These are the same ****wits who continually **** **** up for everyone else. There is no difference here for the 2.5 years they will serve to any drunk driver, these ****wits killed someone due to their idiocy, they deserve more than 2.5 years.

Agreed, 2.5 years is no where near long enough. Its pretty much saying if i go and put a bullet in someones head for any reason i will get 20 years in jail, yet if i just line this person up with my car and say I was racing I get 2.5 years WTF. Clearly if you put a gun to someones head they have done atleast something wrong no matter how small or large it would be, yet they kill a completly innocent person and get less, it doesnt make any sense at all. Australias legal system us ****ED.

[STEALTHY™]

Oh what a great comment. Yes we should watch for rampaging idiots changing lanes rapdily while doing in excess of 40 km/h over the speed limit. Whats next you will say people who get shot are killed because they stood in front of a gun?

The only people in the wrong here are the ****ing idiot drivers who were acting like ****wits. These are the same ****wits who continually **** **** up for everyone else. There is no difference here for the 2.5 years they will serve to any drunk driver, these ****wits killed someone due to their idiocy, they deserve more than 2.5 years.

I look at things from both points of view. Without a doubt they are guilty and deserve more punishment than they got, but the person killed still pulled out in front of someone. It happens time and time again, cars T boning another car who pulled out infront of them. I can recall 5 of the top of my head of mates cars written off because of people pulling out. On both point, both people were going to have the same outcome. the woman would end up dead (being T boned at 80 will **** your neck straightaway, almost guranteed death if the drivers side is hit), aswell as the people street racing were eventually going to hit other cars.

When i referred to the sentence vs drunk drivers, i was talking about 1 case where a girl was seriously injured, and ended up having her life support turned off, and the guy walked. Another who killed someone, got 12 months.

[Tom_1569]

outcome. the woman would end up dead (being T boned at 80 will **** your neck straightaway, almost guranteed death if the drivers side is hit), aswell as the people street racing were eventually going to hit other cars.

True, being hit a 80 K's still could of hadthe same outcome. BUT If your travveling at 80 k's safely, not weaving in and out of traffic, then you would have time to break or swerve, potentially not hitting her so hard, or possible hit the rear of the car, or she would of had time to plant it and get out of the way. Even being hit at 80 k's you have alot higher chance of surving then 120.

[VL_5SPEED]

Once again we see someone killed because they don't know how to drive. 120 is that different from 80, she should've seen the cars on the road and not pulled out....but ohwell.

You are a douche bag.

[STEALTHY™]

You are a douche bag.

What a constructive comment. I clearly explained the reasons for my comment in the my second post. And i'm right, because its my opinion, just like everyone else.

[minux]

I look at things from both points of view. Without a doubt they are guilty and deserve more punishment than they got, but the person killed still pulled out in front of someone. It happens time and time again, cars T boning another car who pulled out infront of them. I can recall 5 of the top of my head of mates cars written off because of people pulling out. On both point, both people were going to have the same outcome. the woman would end up dead (being T boned at 80 will **** your neck straightaway, almost guranteed death if the drivers side is hit), aswell as the people street racing were eventually going to hit other cars.

When i referred to the sentence vs drunk drivers, i was talking about 1 case where a girl was seriously injured, and ended up having her life support turned off, and the guy walked. Another who killed someone, got 12 months.

If they were tarvelling at 80, there would have been enough time for her to clear the road with ease. We really should not have to guess if people are doing 120 in an 80 zone all the time. Who is to say they were not doing 120 when she pulled out but then they booted it without seeing, what was a safe margin has now been closed a considerable amount.

[STEALTHY™]

If they were tarvelling at 80, there would have been enough time for her to clear the road with ease. We really should not have to guess if people are doing 120 in an 80 zone all the time. Who is to say they were not doing 120 when she pulled out but then they booted it without seeing, what was a safe margin has now been closed a considerable amount.

If, but, all irrelevant. You and i don't know what 'could've' happened if the situation was different. there may have been enough time for her to clear them, there may not have. Fact is, she pulled out. And her inattention killed her.

[minux]

If, but, all irrelevant. You and i don't know what 'could've' happened if the situation was different. there may have been enough time for her to clear them, there may not have. Fact is, she pulled out. And her inattention killed her.

Actually wrong, their stupidty killed her.

[STEALTHY™]

Actually wrong, their stupidty killed her.

If she didn't pull out, the accident wouldn't have happened. If they weren't speeding, the accident would have happened at a lower speed......

[AirStrike]

If, but, all irrelevant. You and i don't know what 'could've' happened if the situation was different. there may have been enough time for her to clear them, there may not have. Fact is, she pulled out. And her inattention killed her.

Yeah I have to agree with that. It shouldn't matter if a car is doing 40km/h or 240km/h, you should be able to judge if you can safely pull out or not.

[calais_304]

im just going to say that when at an intersection it's not hard to determin wether someone is coming down the road at a faster rate then normal wether it be day or night...if you can't judge that then you should never pull out untill all cars are gone.

120 in an 80 zone isn't light speed and i believe she should have known that they were coming, but like most people on the road they think once they pull out people will automaticly slow down for them while thay take there time getting up to speed....i say this because for the last couple of days i've had people pulling out on me and you almost want to give them a flogging for such stupidity.

at the same time if your speeding in and out of traffic you really should be taking into account the unexpected.

[calais_304]

Yeah I have to agree with that. It shouldn't matter if a car is doing 40km/h or 240km/h, you should be able to judge if you can safely pull out or not.

problem is though to many people think "they won't hit me" and believe they can pull out when ever they want.

Cairns is bad for it, even worse then brisbane

[commsirac]

Yeah I have to agree with that. It shouldn't matter if a car is doing 40km/h or 240km/h, you should be able to judge if you can safely pull out or not.

I didnt think they would be a second person that would agree with Stealthy.

We are talking about public roads where a person got killed by a moron who was doing excessive speed, not someone that tried to cross over a drag strip!

We expect vehicles to behaving in a predictable manner.
Cousin slow poke has changed his tune too, but perhaps still doenst understand why changing speed from 0-60km/h on a public road in a blink of a eye can be dangerous either?

[minux]

If she didn't pull out, the accident wouldn't have happened. If they weren't speeding, the accident would have happened at a lower speed......

*sigh*

I guess when you have someone you know killed from idiots street racing with excessive speed and erratic lane changing involved you will simply go up and shake their hand and say "its all good mate wasn't your fault anyway".

Fact is, the police report stated that had they been travelling at the posted limit the driver would of been able to stop without hitting the car, should also mention that it was found that the driver killed was to not be at fault in any way.

[Low_VX_Taxi]

One of the first things I was taught when learning to drive was when you have right of way, my instructor showed me pictures of cars t boned by trucks and some horrific images where the person had the "right of way" but still ended up dead/seriously hurt.

The only time you have right of way is "when it is given to you" (thats stuck in my head!!!).

So even though the tools deserve a bigger Jail (gaol just for you CSP) sentence the death could have been prevented if the lady had judged the gap and if she was even slightly unsure waited till after the car passed........

[Low_VX_Taxi]

We expect vehicles to behaving in a predictable manner.

Sorry to dissect your post but since when were road users predictable??? Half the time people can't even use a bloody indicator let alone drive in a predictable manner......

doesn't matter if your the best driver in the world you will still end up getting killed by some tool who has absolutely no idea how to drive....

[calais_304]

Sorry to dissect your post but since when were road users predictable??? Half the time people can't even use a bloody indicator let alone drive in a predictable manner......

doesn't matter if your the best driver in the world you will still end up getting killed by some tool who has absolutely no idea how to drive....

totally agree, cairns is a prime example of people doing what ever the hell they want, i don't think road rules exist up here.

[commsirac]

So even though the tools deserve a bigger Jail (gaol just for you CSP) sentence the death could have been prevented if the lady had judged the gap and if she was even slightly unsure waited till after the car passed........

Who knows if they were even in the frame when she did her head check to see what is coming.
Perhaps the accident may have been avoided if the lady was able to see them approaching or judge the speed, perhaps "driving experts" that visit this forum have these skills. This lady for whatever reason did not!
Excuses such as "the driver I crashed into didnt have the skills to avoid my stupidity" deserve what they get......jail,gaol,prison(aren't they the same thing?) .........whatever.