David Baker, victim of alleged hit-run driver Brian William Ross, says he does not forgive incident but has sympathy for elderly, sick driver and his family
HE faces an uphill battle to recover from injuries sustained in a hit-run, but this motorcyclist’s sympathies are with the family of the elderly, unlicensed driver charged over the crash.
- Alleged hit-run driver ‘hasn’t held a licence for over 30 years’
- Bailed, unlicensed hit-run accused ‘caught behind the wheel again’
HE faces an uphill battle to recover from injuries sustained in a hit-run, but motorcyclist David Baker’s sympathies are with the family of the unlicensed driver charged over the crash.
On Wednesday, Mr Baker watched from the Adelaide Magistrates Court’s public gallery as Brian William Ross applied for release on bail – again.
Ross, who has not held a licence for 30 years, was given strict bail after he allegedly struck Mr Baker last month.
Just nine days later, he was allegedly caught behind the wheel by police and arrested for breaching those release conditions.
Outside court, Mr Baker – who suffered a broken collarbone and dislocated shoulder in the hit-run – said the “whole situation” was “a sad one”.
“I don’t forgive him but I’m not after vengeance either … I’m sure his family and friends are suffering just as much, and there are no winners here,” he said.
“I would like to see our lawmakers do a lot more about stopping people like Mr Ross from making decisions based on their own, rather than the community’s, interests.”
Ross, 72, of Unley, is charged with offences including aggravated driving without due care, failing to stop and driving disqualified, as well as impeding a police investigation.
Police allege that, on July 18, he was behind the wheel of a silver Ford sedan that collided with and injured Mr Baker at the intersection of Hutt St and South Tce in the city.
Following his arrest in July, the court heard Ross had not held a licence since 1987 but had continued to drive, despite his disqualification and numerous health issues.
Under the terms of his release, he was banned from being behind the wheel, or in the driver’s seat, of all motor vehicles.
Asked, outside court, whether he had anything to say to his alleged victim, who suffered a broken collarbone in the crash, Ross replied: “He did it to himself”.
Nine days later, Ross was allegedly pulled over at Unley – and his German shepherd launched itself at an officer and tore his pants.
The officer was not injured, and Ross was charged with driving disqualified and breaching his bail.
On Wednesday, counsel for Ross asked the court to order a home detention bail inquiry report ahead of a second bid for release next Wednesday.
Outside court, Mr Baker said his recovery would be “slow”, with doctors predicting his recovery would take at least 12 months and involve “quite a lot of reconstruction”.
“I haven’t been able to sleep right since the accident, it’s a very painful injury … personally, I would like to see myself driving and riding my motorcycle again,” he said.
“Ross is a very elderly man and he’s quite sick … he’s probably almost been punished enough with the stress he must be going through, having been in custody for 20-odd days.
“In the case of his family members, I hope they have the strength to get through this period … it’s very difficult for them.”
He conceded Ross’ comments outside court had been upsetting.
“I heard the remark – I was quite cross with that and it made my family quite angry,” he said.
“But you have to understand the stress he must’ve been under at the time … I can understand why he might make a silly remark, but it was certainly not appropriate.”