Year after hit-run crash that killed Lucy Paveley, husband Jamie thanks South Australia for its kindness
IT has been one year since loving mother Lucy Paveley was killed in a senseless tragedy while driving to work — on the anniversary, her husband penned an emotional statement thanking South Australians for their “kindness, love and generosity”.
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HE has faced the daunting task of raising two children as a widow as he struggles with grief after his wife was killed during a senseless hit-run crash while driving to work.
For the past 12 months, Jamie Paveley, 39, has bravely faced the world without his “dearest” wife of 10 years, Lucyna, 40, known as Lucy.
But despite his ongoing heartbreak, he has managed to get through this “difficult time” through the “kindness, love and generosity shown by the wider community”.
The British-born chef publicly thanked those who have rallied around his family, particularly his daughter, 9, and eight-year-old son, whose northern suburbs primary school has also helped.
His wife died after a stolen Mitsubishi Pajero with a teenager at the wheel ploughed into her red Nissan Micra as she drove along Main North Rd, Parafield, at 6.37am on August 20 last year.
The Polish-born mother of Mawson Lakes had just began her 21-minute journey to AnglicareSA’s Elizabeth Dutton Court nursing home, where she was due to work the early shift.
The care worker died instantly after the teenager, Lyle Leonard Morrison, now 19, ran a red light at the intersection of Kings Rd as he tried to evade authorities at almost double the speed limit.
Speaking on behalf of Mr Paveley — who decided against returning back to his native Britain — and his children, AnglicareSA chief executive Peter Sandeman said he had asked that “we communicate how grateful” the family were.
He told The Advertiser Mr Paveley also “gives thanks for the kindness, love and generosity shown by the wider community”.
In a statement issued through the charity, Mr Paveley said: “We have a long road still to travel following the tragic loss of our dearest Lucy last year but we take comfort in the amazing support we have received.”
Mr Sandeman also said he “thanks the community” for “respecting his family’s need for peace and privacy again at this difficult time”.
In a death notice shortly after her death, Mr Paveley remembered his “adored and devoted” wife and expressed his devastation at her “senseless” death.
Morrison was driving a gang of teenagers, including one who was aged just 13, while disqualified from driving when he caused the crash.
In a decision condemned by senior police, they fled in another stolen car, a 2015 Mazda 3 hatchback that was used during a crime spree across Adelaide’s suburbs in the proceeding hours.
Detectives from a special SA Police taskforce, codenamed Operation Halon, later arrested and charged the gang amid widespread community outrage.
Morrison, of Pennington, in Adelaide’s northwest, was initially charged with manslaughter, which prosecutors later dropped.
He had admitted a string of crimes including causing death by dangerous driving, leaving the scene of an accident after causing harm, and driving dangerously to escape a police pursuit. He faces the District Court next month and up to 15 years in jail.
The other four youths, aged between 13 and 17 — who cannot be named due to their age — pleaded guilty to charges linked to the crash and the crime spree leading up to it, including aggravated serious criminal trespass and theft.
The passenger, 15, of Salisbury East, escaped conviction in April despite “appalling choices”. The other two were later convicted and sentenced to time served in custody.