Alicia Barbara Frances Pickett avoids jail after running over father Zack Hunt in 2023

She was driving on an unfamiliar road late at night. He was lying in the middle of the road. Now, this mother has learned her fate for running over a person who “she thought was a log”.

The woman who ran over a father and beloved son who was lying in the middle of a road at night has avoided jail after a court found she could not have seen the man before having time to stop.

Alicia Barbara Frances Pickett was spared jail earlier this week for running over Zack Hunt in hit-run crash in Elizabeth Downs in August 2023.

The South Australian District Court previously heard that following the collision, Pickett said she thought what she hit was a log, but later turned herself into police five hours later after finding out she had actually hit a person.

Pickett, now 31, was behind the wheel of her Holden station wagon when she collided with 32-year-old father Zack Hunt on Johnston Rd, Elizabeth Downs, at about 1am.

Mr Hunt had been lying on the road, wearing dark clothing, when Pickett ran over him. He died at the scene.

Pickett was travelling at a speed between 63-69km/h, the court heard, in what was signed as a 50km/h zone.

Alicia Pickett pleaded guilty to driving without due care or attention, and to leaving the scene of an accident. Picture: Facebook

The court previously heard she thought Mr Hunt was a log. Picture: Facebook

She was originally charged with causing his death by dangerous driving, however that charge was later dropped, and she pleaded guilty to the charges of driving without due care or attention and leaving the scene of an accident.

In court on Tuesday, Chief Judge Michael Evans said it was accepted that any other person driving on that road, at that time, and at the maximum speed limit, would likely not have seen Mr Hunt on the road.

“You saw something on the road but were unable to immediately identify that it was a person. You did not have time to avoid hitting the person who you now know was Mr Hunt,” he said.

“Having hit Mr Hunt, you did not immediately stop. You then stopped and rang a friend in a state of panic and confusion and arranged to meet your friend at a nearby hotel.”

Zack Hunt was lying on the road when the collision occurred. Picture: Facebook

The 32-year-old father died at the scene. Picture: Facebook

He said later in the evening, Pickett returned home, shaved her head and then turned herself into the Elizabeth Police Station.

“I accept that you were in a heightened state of disbelief, confusion and panic immediately after the accident and that led to you not stopping and rendering assistance, nor immediately reporting the accident to police,” Chief Judge Evans said.

“Once you had contacted your mother and calmed down, you reported the accident to police.

“You have not been charged with and are not to be sentenced for causing the death of Mr Hunt.

“I also accept that you now take responsibility for your offending and are genuinely contrite.”

He sentenced her to three months and eight days imprisonment, taking into account a 35 per cent discount for her guilty pleas.

That sentence was then suspended upon Pickett entering into a 12-month good behaviour bond.