Darren Hicks lost his leg in a truck crash that killed two people. Now he’s rebuilding his own life on the bike and is aiming at the Tokyo Paralympics

THE Adelaide truck driver who lost his leg in a horror freeway crash that killed two people in 2014 is rebuilding his own life through cycling and by aiming for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

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THE Adelaide truck driver who lost his leg in a horror freeway crash that killed two people in 2014 is rebuilding his own life through cycling and by aiming for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

Darren Hicks will stand trial in October next year charged with causing death by dangerous driving after the brakes on the truck he was driving failed, and it smashed into stationary cars at an estimated 150km/h at the bottom of the South Eastern Freeway on August 18, 2014.

The crash claimed the life of Tom Spiess, 56, and Jacqui Byrne, 41, who died as a result of their injuries.

The wreckage of the fatal crash at the bottom of the freeway. Picture: Roger Wyman

Crash victim Tom Spiess.

Crash victim Jacqui Byrne.

The Advertiser contacted the family of the victims when preparing this story.

Hicks — who was in his first week on the job driving a sewage truck for Cleanaway — had his right leg almost completely severed in the crash and it was later amputated above the knee.

Cleanaway is also facing federal charges that it failed to properly train Hicks.

But as he awaits his trial next year, Hicks has transformed his life with a new focus — elite para-cycling — and won two silver medals at this year’s world championships in South Africa, racing against cyclists with two functioning legs.

The married 32-year-old pedals with one leg — without his prosthetic — and this weekend will race the national track championships in Sydney.

He is a full-time scholarship holder with the South Australian Sports Institute and pending his progress and the outcome of his court case, is a genuine chance to make the next Paralympics in Tokyo.

Para-cyclist Darren Hicks at the velodrome. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Darren Hicks outside Adelaide Magistrates Court.

“It was a very hard time dealing with my personal side of it (leg amputation) as well as everything that has been attached to it,” Hicks told The Advertiser in an exclusive interview.

“Things were starting to get the better of me, I wasn’t in a great place, and the more I started riding, the more it helped to get my head in a good spot and gave me something to focus on rather than thinking about what had happened.

“It’s been a way of waking up with a purpose every morning ... it’s a nice way to get the day started, to have a goal and have something you have to wake up for. And to have something you really enjoy is a positive.

“There are still days I definitely struggle, even as much as I love riding there are still days you wake up and don’t want to deal with it — but that’s life.

“Everyone has hard times they have to deal with, I’ve just got a few extra bits that are attached. You have to deal with what’s happened and I feel like I’m just trying to do the best I can.”

Hicks had some psychological help in the aftermath but mostly turned to family and friends to help him through the most difficult period of his life.

Three weeks after the crash, he got his dad to drive him back to the scene as part of that process.

Hicks was a talented BMX rider as a junior and started cycling as part of his rehabilitation from his leg injury. In 2015, he was talking to SA para-cycling coach Loz Shaw, who encouraged him to pursue it competitively.

“He gave me a push in the right direction to get ready for the national road championships in 2016 and he was the one who encouraged me to ride without a prosthetic and use my left leg only,” Hicks said.

Racing in a category known as ‘single bike C2’, Hicks went from the national track and road titles with SASI in 2016 to earning selection on the Australian team for the 2017 road world championships in South Africa in September.

Hicks said returning from the world titles with two silver medals — for the road race and time trial — was “extremely unexpected” after losing only to the reigning Paralympic champion.

He is showing just as much promise on the velodrome where he races the 1km time trial and 3km individual pursuit. “That (world championships) was a massive step forward in how things have gone, as far as getting my head around the fact that I’ve got a chance to do something more than just having a go,” Hicks said.

“The whole idea was to go out and get an idea for what elite competition was, because it was my first ever event at world level.

“Things went better than expected which was good.”

Hicks feels indebted to people who have helped him recover physically and mentally. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Hicks will ride in the national road championships in Ballarat in January but his para-classification isn’t on the Commonwealth Games program so his longer-term goal is Tokyo.

“The end goal is definitely the Paralympics, I’ll go as far or as high as my ability will take me, but the goal is for Tokyo in three-and-a-bit years’ time and if that goes well, I’d definitely love to go for Paris in 2024.”

Hicks is also putting his energy into helping the Cancer Council’s Ride for a Reason campaign because he feels indebted to people who have helped him recover physically and mentally.

As part of that, he will ride the Bupa Challenge Tour during January’s Tour Down Under while helping raise funds and awareness to fight cancer.

“I lost my uncle to bowel cancer two years ago, so it’s a cause that means a lot to me,” he said.

“But so many people have helped me (since the crash), I want to do anything I can to help others.

“The Ride for a Reason occurs every year and it’s something I can be involved in more than just once, we have new people come on board every year and if I can come along to training rides and support them then I will.”

Coach describes a unique talent

DARREN Hicks’ cycling coach believes he can break the 3km individual pursuit world record and is a genuine medal contender for the Tokyo Paralympics.

South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) para-cycling coach Loz Shaw has been working with Hicks for the past two years and describes him as a tough and unique athlete.

“Some people will come into para-cycling and realise it’s hard, because it’s a brutal sport, and that it’s too hard for them, but he’s unique,” Shaw said.

“He was the only guy in the top-10 at the world championships with one leg. Some of his rivals were riding with cerebral palsy or various neuro disorders but they had two functioning legs.

“Considering he originally used it (cycling) as an outlet to put the helmet and sunglasses on and no one knew who he was, he’d just nick off and have a ride with long pants on, to come out and do what he’s doing (is very impressive).”

Hicks’ 3km individual pursuit PB is two seconds outside the current world record which Shaw believes he can break.

“He and I had a really good debrief about a week ago and I said ‘I know that world record is waiting for you’, because I honestly believe he has it in him,” Shaw said.

“He’s already a podium potential athlete for road (cycling in Tokyo) and we’re just looking at what he could do on the track now and if you can road time trial you can IP.

“His start hurts because he’s up against guys with two legs so he’s three seconds down on the first half-lap so then he needs to bring it home really strong.”

Shaw said part of his role as coach was helping Hicks emotionally as well as physically.

“My job is to get the best out of him but look at how they (athletes) are stability-wise, some days he’s needed a bit of space,” Shaw said.

“But if he ever rings and needs a bit of a chat, to be honest with you it always ends up the same conversation - we always talk about what’s next on the bike.”