Joshua Buying jailed for five years after mowing down good Samaritan with car

A good Samaritan helping a terrified woman was run down by an “out of control” thug who then callously left him on the side of the road.

A good Samaritan ended up missing his daughter’s 21st birthday after he was mowed down by a thug while trying to help a terrified woman.

Joshua John Buying, 34, was jailed for over five years after he callously left the injured man lying in his front yard before driving off.

During sentencing, the District Court heard the victim was working in his Happy Valley garage on May 20, 2023.

“He heard a woman screaming out in the street and the screeching of tyres,” Judge Anthony Allen said.

The victim observed a woman, who was an acquaintance of Buying’s, running towards him and screaming ‘Help me, he’s trying to kill me’.”

Joshua Buying was jailed for mowing down a good Samaritan. Photo: File

The court heard the victim told the woman to run up his driveway, which she did, before hiding behind his car.

The victim then observed a HiLux driven by Buying revving loudly before he drove it straight towards him at speed.

“The centre of the bull bar hit the victim on his left side causing him immediately to fall to the ground,” Judge Allen said.

Buying then reversed and drove off.

The victim was hospitalised after suffering a broken arm and bruising.

Buying pleaded guilty to causing harm with intent.

In his victim impact statement, the victim said he suffers from ongoing pain and the crime happened on the day of his daughter’s 21st birthday, which he was unable to attend.

“Quite frankly it is nothing short of a miracle that the victim did not suffer more serious injuries, or death,” Judge Allen said.

The court heard Buying was sentenced in 2017 for a road rage incident where he rammed a moped rider, causing it to flip over and collide with a tree.

“It is apparent that you have a very short temper which manifests itself in a most dangerous way,” Judge Allen said.

The court heard Buying had relapsed into heavy methamphetamine and GHB use at the time of the offending and described being “out of control”.

Judge Allen sentenced Buying to five years and seven months jail, with a non-parole period of three years and nine months.

“The victim in this matter was acting as a good Samaritan trying to assist a terrified woman who was fleeing from you,” he said.

“You deliberately chose to turn your car into a weapon, lining up, accelerating, leaving the road, before running the victim down and callously leaving him injured in the front yard before driving off.”

The sentence was backdated to June 18, 2023.

Originally published as Joshua Buying jailed for five years after mowing down good Samaritan with car