Truck driver jailed over cyclist’s Dutton Park railway bridge crushing death

HE hung his head in the dock, no doubt thinking the words he wrote to the wife of the man he killed: “If I could trade places, I would.”

Les Karayan with children Alessandro 11 and Sabine 9 and wife of over 20 years Kerri-Lee

HE hung his head in the dock, no doubt thinking the words he wrote to the wife of the man he killed: “If I could trade places, I would.”

David Gray, 52, was jailed for three years and three months in the District Court at Brisbane on Friday, two years after a stressful morning at work resulted in him striking a railway bridge and tipping his truck, crushing a cyclist.

Father of two Les Karayan, 40, was killed instantly as he rode in the cycle lane beneath the two rail bridges on Annerley Rd at Dutton Park on a Saturday morning on August 17, 2013.

Judge Brad Farr said Gray, a truckie for 10 years, failed to check the height of his semi-trailer and failed to pay attention to warning signs alerting him to the bridge’s low height.

He ordered Gray be released on a suspended sentence after serving eight months.

Mr Karayan’s wife Kerri-Lee said outside court there were “no winners”.

Kerri-Lee Karayan (right) leaves Brisbane District Court after the driver of a truck, David Gray, 52, was jailed for three years and three months for driving without due care, causing the death of her husband, cyclist Les Karayan.

“Nothing that we’ve heard today could bring Leslie back so, it’s just a warning to drivers of heavy machinery,” she said, surrounded by family and friends.

Gray had written her a letter, which she received before he was sentenced after pleading guilty to the dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death.

“I live the incident every day and if I could go back and change it I would, including changing places,” he wrote.

Crown prosecutor Patrina Clohessy said Gray’s semi-trailer was loaded with glass bottles when he first hit a warning gantry and then struck the second of two rail bridges at an angle, causing the truck to tip.

She said Gray failed to check the height of the truck before he left, did not complete a safety check before he commenced his journey and was driving a truck that was taller than he was used to.

Ms Clohessy said Gray became lost on route to his job, had turned his GPS on for directions and was “stressed and panicked” when he hit the bridge.

She said Mr Karayan was cycling across the bike lane when he was instantly crushed.

The court was told Gray told police he did not see the bridges or signage on his approach and was distracted by the cannon-like noise his truck made as it struck the gantry on its approach to the bridges.

The scene of the rollover at Annerley Rd, Dutton Park where cyclist Les Karayan was killed. Picture: Mark Cranitch.

“Of course, there is nothing this court can do to compensate for the tragic and senseless loss of a life and the impact of the death of a happily married father of two, whose loss will be felt forever more by the friend and family of Mr Karayan,” she said.

The court was told Gray ran through a red light on April 30 last year but otherwise had limited relevant criminal history.

Barrister Laura Reece, for Gray, tendered 11 character references on her client’s behalf and added he had a strong employment history both as a truckie and a glazier.

She said Gray had volunteered in the SES in NSW and during the 2011 Queensland floods when he drove trucks through debris-riddled streets to support those whose homes were inundated.

Ms Reece said Gray had been preparing to go to jail by finishing up work last week, saving money to pay rent for his wife and by selling off some items to help cover expenses during his absence.

She said he was “deeply affected” by the accident and had seen a psychologist to try and process the tragedy and prepare for incarceration.

Judge Farr said it was disappointing Gray had disobeyed traffic rules after the accident, adding he would have thought any driving post that event “would have been accompanied by impeccable obedience to road rules”.

He said Gray’s offending was more than a case of merely momentary inattention but accepted his remorse

“I accept you now find the burden of that harm you have caused a heavy one and you recognise it will remain with your for the rest of your life,” he said.

Judge Farr disqualified Gray from driving for two years.