Jak Fitzsimmons jailed after drug and alcohol-fuelled hit and run, Ballina

A man has been jailed after he hit a cyclist while driving on the wrong side of the road and fled during a four-day ice and alcohol bender – leaving her with catastrophic injuries and ongoing pain.

A 35-year-old woman riding an ebike was hit by Jak Fitzsimmons on Catherine Cres, Ballina. Picture: Google Maps

A man has been jailed after he hit a cyclist while driving on the wrong side of a Ballina road and fled during a four-day ice and alcohol bender – leaving her with catastrophic injuries and ongoing pain.

Tintenbar man Jak Fitzsimmons, 29, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm, fail to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing grievous bodily harm and driving an unregistered car.

He appeared in Lismore Local Court on Wednesday for sentencing.

Police facts state Fitzsimmons was driving on the wrong side of the road when he struck a 35-year-old female cyclist about 10.20pm at Catherine Cres, Ballina in July last year.

The e-bike rider told police she saw the ute and bulbar crash into her and recalled hitting the bonnet before falling to the ground, facts state.

Jak Fitzsimmons fled after he hit the cyclist. Picture: File

The victim screamed in pain as Fitzsimmons turned off his headlights and fled the scene.

She suffered a fractured knee and elbow, requiring surgery. The woman will have ongoing, chronic pain, facts state.

On Wednesday Fitzsimmons’ lawyer Vincent Boss said when the offending happened his client had recently broken up with his partner of five years.

The offender’s bail has been “quite onerous” and while he was “reckless” at the time – he is not the same person, Mr Boss said.

Mr Boss said Fitzsimmons recognised the harm caused to the victim and was trying to address the issues “to turn his life around”.

“He wasn’t in the right frame of mind,” he said.

The outside of Lismore Court House. Picture: Savannah Pocock

Crown prosecutor Alanna Coxon said Fitzsimmons did not show remorse when offending and “he lied to others about his involvement in the impact”, she said.

While the sentence assessment report shows he had some insight and remorse, the crown said it was shown “belatedly”, the court heard.

“He admitted to using alcohol and ice during the incident. He had a four day bender, according to a SAR report,” she said.

“There’s an ongoing impact for the victim.”

Magistrate Jeff Linden sentenced Fitzsimmons to one year and three months in jail, with a non-parole period of three months.

Fitzsimmons’ drivers licence has been disqualified for three years.

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Originally published as Jak Fitzsimmons jailed after drug and alcohol-fuelled hit and run, Ballina