Jayson Kyle Ramsay was high on methamphetamine, disqualified from driving and avoiding police when he killed friend in crash

A young driver was high on drugs, disqualified and taking back roads through the Riverland to avoid police when he killed his friend in a crash – but his victim’s family have begged him to seek help.

A 20-year-old driver was high on methamphetamine, disqualified from driving and taking back roads through the Riverland to avoid police when he crashed off the road, killing one passenger and injuring another, a court has heard.

But despite his crimes, the family of the victim have extended hope and compassion to the man who killed their son and brother.

Jayson Kyle Ramsay, now 21, pleaded guilty to aggravated causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving over the crash on May 19, 2020.

During sentencing submissions in the District Court on Thursday, Judge Ian Press heard victim impact statements from the family of Adrian Hobinchet, the 24-year-old man who was killed in the crash.

Social media photo of Jayson Ramsay who killed his friend Adrian Hobinchet in a crash in the Riverland last year.

“I am not the same person and never will be,” Mr Hobinchet’s mother told the court.

“I struggle to find ways to survive. I was diagnosed with broken heart syndrome and spent three days in hospital.”

But despite the trauma of losing her youngest child, she told the court she hoped Ramsay got help and made something of his life.

“The memory and pain of the accident will live with Jayson as long as they live with me,” she said.

Mr Hobinchet’s sister said “a piece of her heart died” along with her brother.

“It is hard enough having to plan a funeral for a 24-year-old, let alone the delays caused by Covid-19,” she said.

“My brother has now become a statistic, one of those markers on the side of the road.”

Like her mother, Mr Hobinchet’s sister said she hoped Ramsay got his life together.

“You have been given a second chance, a chance to start over,” she said.

“Please seek all the help you can, please get support.”

Ramsay, appearing via video from Mobilong Prison, wiped tears from his eyes during the victim impact statements.

Corinne Harrison, prosecuting, told Judge Press Mr Hobinchet had been in the back seat of the car asleep when the vehicle left the road at a bend and crashed into a drainage ditch.

He died at the scene while Ramsay’s other passenger, his stepbrother, was seriously injured.

Expert evidence on the level of methamphetamine in Ramsay’s blood showed he would have been “significantly impaired” at the time of the crash.

Ramsay was interviewed by police and said it had been “a stupid decision to drive”.

He was initially refused bail because of the seriousness of the offences but was later released on home detention bail.

He breached bail by being caught with drugs and was returned to prison and jailed for a month.

After being released for a final time, Ramsay failed to attend his home detention address and went on the run for several months in the Riverland before being returned to prison.

Kathryn Waite, for Ramsay, said her client had experienced a horrific upbringing and had turned to methamphetamine to cope.

“He has had a lifetime of abuse and neglect and he is only 21 years old,” she said.

“He wants to change and I ask that be a focus of the sentencing process.”

Ramsay will be sentenced next month.