Key Takeaways
- Hayley Louise Simpson, 21, was sentenced to a 12-month community-based order and a 12-month driver’s licence disqualification for being the driver involved in an incident occasioning death or grievous bodily harm and failing to report the incident to police.
- Simpson drove over Albany nurse Bronwyn Clark, who was lying down on the road, and failed to report the incident, despite seeing a police roadblock the following day.
- The magistrate took into account Simpson’s youth, anxiety diagnosis, and good character when deciding not to hand down a term of imprisonment.
- Bronwyn Clark’s family described her as a "cherished" member of the community who lived a life built on compassion, service, and unconditional kindness.
- The family is urging the public to be cautious and aware, and to render assistance if an accident occurs, to prevent other families from going through the same ordeal.
Introduction to the Incident
The Albany Magistrates Court has sentenced Hayley Louise Simpson, 21, to a 12-month community-based order and a 12-month driver’s licence disqualification for her involvement in a tragic incident that resulted in the death of Albany nurse Bronwyn Clark. Simpson was found guilty of being the driver involved in an incident occasioning death or grievous bodily harm and failing to report the incident to police. The court was told that Simpson drove over Ms. Clark, who was lying down on Hardie Road in the Albany suburb of Spencer Park, at around 8 pm on July 9.
The Incident Unfolds
In the moments leading up to the incident, Simpson, a P-plater, had seen an oncoming vehicle flash its lights, and she spotted "something white" that "looked like a sheep" on the road. However, it was too late for her to drive around it, and she felt "a slight thud" as she drove over the object. Unbeknownst to Simpson, the object was Ms. Clark, who was lying down on the road. A witness saw Simpson’s black Honda CRV drive over the victim and called Triple Zero, and emergency services took Ms. Clark to Albany Health Campus, where she was declared dead within the hour.
Failure to Report the Incident
Simpson’s failure to report the incident to police was a significant factor in the court’s decision. Despite seeing a police roadblock the following day, Simpson did not stop to report the incident, and it was not until her arrest a few days later that she made admissions to police. The prosecution argued that Simpson had a duty to report the incident, especially after seeing the police roadblock, and that her failure to do so was a serious breach of her responsibilities as a driver. Simpson’s defense counsel, Sonia Anderson, argued that the incident happened so fast that Simpson did not register that it was a person she had hit, and that she was anxious and worried about the consequences of reporting the incident.
The Court’s Decision
The magistrate, Matthew Holgate, took into account Simpson’s youth, anxiety diagnosis, and good character when deciding not to hand down a term of imprisonment. The court noted that the incident was "unusual" and "tragic," and that Simpson had not been charged with being responsible for the death of the victim. The magistrate also noted that Simpson had not seen or registered that there was a person on the road, and that it was not something that one would ordinarily expect to see. Simpson was given a spent conviction, which means that she will not have a criminal record for the offense.
The Family’s Plea
Bronwyn Clark’s family was devastated by her sudden and tragic death, and they are still grappling with the consequences of Simpson’s actions. Ms. Clark’s daughter, Bethanie Clark, described her mother as a "cherished" member of the community who lived a life built on compassion, service, and unconditional kindness. The family is urging the public to be cautious and aware, and to render assistance if an accident occurs, to prevent other families from going through the same ordeal. Bethanie Clark said that Simpson’s failure to render assistance and report the incident had left their family with a level of pain and unanswered questions that no words can fully describe.
Conclusion
The incident involving Hayley Louise Simpson and Bronwyn Clark is a tragic reminder of the importance of being cautious and aware on the roads, and of the need to render assistance if an accident occurs. The court’s decision to sentence Simpson to a community-based order and driver’s licence disqualification reflects the seriousness of the offense, while also taking into account Simpson’s youth and good character. The Clark family’s plea for the public to be more aware and compassionate is a powerful reminder of the human cost of such incidents, and the need for all of us to be more mindful of our actions on the roads.