A P-Plater who hit and killed a blind pensioner and his guide dog in the area VictoriaHe then lied about the crash and destroyed footage of it and was imprisoned.
Billy-Jo Salter, 24, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison in the county court after pleading guilty of deadly dangerous driving and destruction of evidence.
Salter was 21 years old when he caused the deaths of 62-year-old Raymond Meadows and guide dog Gerry when he was born on Jan.
Billy-Jo Salter, 24, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison in the county court after pleading guilty of deadly dangerous driving and destruction of evidence. (9News)
The court heard it was dark, but Mr. Meadows was wearing a reflective vest and backpack with flashing lights as he and his dog walked down the roadside to go to the gym.
The dog died almost immediately after being hit by Salter’s car while Mr Meadows died on the way to the hospital.
Salter stopped at the scene and was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs
The dog died almost immediately after being hit by Salter’s car while Mr Meadows died on the way to the hospital. (Nine)
He removed the memory card from his dashcam at the scene and later had his friend destroy it.
For months he reported to police that Mr. Meadows and his dog were on the road, but analysis of the scene of the accident revealed that they were on the asphalt strip next to the road.
Investigations showed that Salter had not braked or steered the car in the five seconds before the accident.
The street on which the accident occurred. (Nine)
Judge Rosemary Carlin said Salter’s actions showed a “total waiver” of his responsibilities as a driver.
“Driving at this speed for five seconds in the dark without any control of your car and without looking properly for any reason is extremely irresponsible and risky behavior,” she said.
Judge Carlin said Salter’s lies about what happened, any destruction of the dash cam footage, thereby exposing the reason for the collision “only to him”, had withheld Mr. Meadow’s family knowledge of what had happened.
“You refused to tell the truth about what happened and you destroyed the only evidence,” she said.
Judge Carlin said the destruction of the footage was “a serious, planned crime”.
Salter was 21 years old when he caused the deaths of 62-year-old Raymond Meadows and guide dog Gerry. (9News)
The court heard that Salter had an abusive childhood, had health problems, and was living with an autism spectrum disorder.
He was sentenced to two years and three months in prison without parole.
