Driver Jamie Hutchins sentenced for hitting pedestrian at Boyne Island

A fisherman towing a boat from a Central Queensland ramp drove “at speed” with his lights on high beam before mowing down a pedestrian and then going back for seconds.

Jamie Joel Hutchins, 31, drove his car intentionally at a pedestrian, Gladstone Magistrates Court heard. Generic image.

A Central Queensland driver who mowed down a pedestrian in a road rage incident has been sentenced.

Jamie Joel Hutchins, 31, appeared in custody in Gladstone Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to charges including wilfully making unnecessary noise or smoke and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

The court heard the first charge involved Hutchins driving a red Commodore last December at the Bray Park boat ramp at Boyne Island.

It was told while pulling a boat trailer out of the water, Hutchins did a burnout which lasted for about 13 seconds.

The more serious offence of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle happened on January 26 this year on Wyndham Avenue, Boyne Island.

Hutchins had returned to the Bray Park boat ramp after a 12-hour fishing trip.

After putting his boat onto the trailer, he drove away “at speed” on Wyndham Avenue with his lights on high beam, the court heard.

It was told a pedestrian and Hutchins “exchanged words” about the manner of his driving.

The pedestrian then walked behind Hutchins’ car and walked away.

Hutchins turned left and drove away but a few minutes later he decided to turn the vehicle around to confront the pedestrian, the court heard.

“They (pedestrian) heard a vehicle coming from behind them at speed, got a bad feeling about it and walked off towards the side of the road,” Magistrate Mary Buchanan said.

“You (Hutchins) didn’t make any attempt to avoid the pedestrian and appeared to intentionally hit the pedestrian with the passenger side mirror.

“You continued to drive to the roundabout and then came back around the roundabout and you were now driving towards the pedestrian again.”

Gladstone Courthouse.

The court heard the pedestrian feared they were “going to be hit again” and Hutchins eventually swerved, but in doing so, his boat came off the trailer.

It was also told the boat trailer was unregistered and Hutchins pleaded guilty to the associated charge.

Hutchins’ criminal and traffic histories were each one page with the latter including a previous careless driving offence.

Solicitor Stephen White said Hutchins was a father of two who had previously been employed as a tyre fitter and in labouring jobs.

Mr White said Hutchins had been diagnosed with conditions including PTSD.

Prior to sentencing, Magistrate Buchanan said it was a serious example of a dangerous operation of a motor vehicle offence and the pedestrian had suffered pain and bruising to their right arm as a result of being struck by Hutchins’ side mirror.

Ms Buchanan also noted that Hutchins had been sentenced in the Brisbane District Court in April for a separate offence, for which he was given 10 years’ jail to serve at least eight years.

“So the sentence of imprisonment I impose today will run concurrent with that sentence,” Ms Buchanan said.

She sentenced Hutchins to six months’ jail and disqualified him from driving for 18 months.

Convictions were recorded.