Truck driver Daniel Luke Barry did not stop after hitting and killing cyclist Daryl Adams because he wanted to finish milk delivery

A truck driver who killed a cyclist failed to stop because of his milk run, a court has heard along with heart-wrenching statements from the victim’s family.

A truck driver who hit and killed a cyclist on a rural stretch of highway did not stop when he realised he had hit the man because he wanted to ensure the state’s South East was supplied with milk, a court has heard.

The testimony from Daniel Luke Barry, 40, came as the family of cyclist Daryl Adams told District Court Judge Steven McEwen of their anguish.

Barry was behind the wheel of a semi-trailer bound for Adelaide from Mount Gambier when he hit the 60-year-old on the morning of January 17, 2019 on the Princes Highway at the Coorong.

The truck did not stop and Barry told the court he did not realise he had hit the cyclist until he stopped at Meningie to drop off some cargo.

Mr Adams had left Victoria only days before the crash, heading towards Adelaide with a friend in time for the Tour Down Under.

Mr Adams’ wife Janny described her husband of 33 years as a “loving and proud father”.

“As our children grew up, Daryl and I thought of travelling more often and were looking forward to becoming grandparents,” she said.

“I had no idea that Daryl leaving the home one morning in January would be the last time that I would see him.

“The news that Daryl had been taken from us was simply unbelievable at first. Even after two years it is still difficult to believe.

“It has left me heartbroken with the prospect of facing my life without him at my side. My life with Daryl was the only life I have known for the past 33 years.”

Jan Cleeman reading a prepared statement outside Adelaide District Court following a hearing for Daniel Barry, a truck driver who hit and killed Ms Cleeman’s brother Daryl Adams. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt.

Mr Adams’ sister Jan Cleeman paid tribute to the motorist who stopped and helped her brother following the crash.

“When you took Daryl from us you took a piece of us too,” she said of Barry.

“Daryl met with the worst of humanity that day when you came along, but thankfully he met with the best of humanity as well in Justin who found him where you had left him to die and tried valiantly to save Daryl.

“We will always be so proud of Daryl but we are so sad that he had so much left to give. We think of Daryl with every cyclist and truck that we see.”

Giving evidence to the court about the circumstances of the crash, Barry said he was not unusually tired or stressed on the morning of the crash.

Daryl Adams, father of two and husband to Janny, who died after being hit by a truck on a country road. Picture: Facebook

He said that his milk run provided a large amount of the region’s milk, and towns like Naracoorte, Robe, Millicent and Mount Gambier would be deprived of the product if he had stopped.

“I just wanted to make sure everyone had their milk,” he said.

“I wanted to have my family around me when I went to the police and told them what had happened.”

Barry said he had not been aware that Mr Adams had been killed in the crash until he arrived in Naracoorte that afternoon.

When he found out, he called his mother and wife before calling the police and waiting next to the truck until they arrived.

He was found guilty at trial of aggravated causing death by dangerous driving and leaving an accident scene after causing death.

Barry was remanded in custody during a hearing late last year and appeared in court via video link from prison.

Truck driver Daniel Barry who hit and killed cyclist Daryl Adams on a rural stretch of highway in January 2019.