Family of Jackson Eales speaks out at inquiry into truck crash that claimed his life

The family of a man who was killed in a fatal crash with a truck in Corio six years ago said their lives have not been the same since.

Jackson Eales was killed when a dangerous goods truck driven by Gerard Voss ran through a Corio intersection. Picture: Facebook.

The family of Jackson Eales, who was killed when a truck driven by Gerard Voss ran through a Corio intersection, told an inquiry the “devastating but avoidable” accident left them heartbroken.

Mr Eales’ twin sister Leah Eales said just one night before the fatal crash on Boxing Day 2016, she captured a sweet moment between her then-five-year-old daughter and her brother as they looked at Christmas lights and celebrated his favourite day of the year.

The next day, she received a call that Mr Eales had been killed in what the family said was an “avoidable” and tragic road accident.

Speaking to a Coroners Court inquiry into the 27-year-old’s death and the possible medical and non-medical reasons Mr Voss may have run through the Broderick Rd intersection more than six years ago, Mr Eales’ family tearfully explained they were still devastated.

Leah Eales told the inquiry on Wednesday that she saw the scene of the accident was livestreamed online and quickly rushed to Corio before her brother’s was confirmed.

“Part of me knew he was gone,” Leah Eales said.

Mr Eales’ younger sister MacKenzie said she “cannot fathom how I am able to enjoy a day such as Christmas”.

“My heart shattered into a million pieces and my whole life felt like it was taken away with it,” MacKenzie Eales said.

Jackson Eales and his girlfriend Melissa who was in the car and had to be flown to hospital. Picture: Facebook.

Jackson Eales’ family said they are still devastated six years on from the fatal Boxing Day crash. Picture: Facebook.

Mr Voss faced criminal proceedings and pleaded not guilty to charges of culpable or dangerous driving causing death and serious injury, negligently causing injury and failing to stop at a stop sign.

County Court judge Felicity Hampel placed a permanent stay on the proceedings, effectively granting him immunity.

Judge Hampel found a properly instructed jury would be unable to exclude the possibility Mr Voss had succumbed to an undiagnosed sleep disorder, which caused him to black out before the crash.

In evidence heard earlier on Wednesday, Associate Professor John Amerena from the Geelong University Hospital said while Mr Voss had a heart attack around the same time, there was “no definitive way” to determine whether this was before or after the crash.

Truck driver Gerard Voss leaving Geelong Magistrates' Court. Picture: Alan Barber

Prof Amerena said sleep apnoea was a “much more realistic reason” for Mr Voss to have lost consciousness.

“(It is) much more likely it was a micro sleep induced by sleep apnoea, rather than a primary heart attack causing arrhythmia (that then) causes the crash,” Prof Amerena said.

In December 2014, Prof Amerena was told by Mr Voss’ wife she was concerned he had sleep apnoea.

This was around the same time Mr Voss was involved in another “motor vehicle accident” he said he could not remember.

However, Prof Amerena said Mr Voss “didn’t have any symptoms to justify investigating him for sleep apnoea”.

The inquiry will continue on Thursday.

Originally published as Family of Jackson Eales speaks out at inquiry into truck crash that claimed his life