Woman accused of reversing over bike rider before fleeing scene

A woman allegedly involved in a hit and run crash that left a cyclist dead after she allegedly reversed over him before leaving the scene said she didn’t see the bike rider and thought she had hit a “piece of metal”.

A woman allegedly involved in a hit and run crash that left a cyclist dead after she allegedly reversed over him before leaving the scene said she didn’t see the cyclist and thought she had hit a “piece of metal”.

Vonny Ho, 47, was arrested on Friday, three days after she allegedly hit a 66-year-old cyclist Raymond Rawiri, 66, in Lidcombe in Sydney’s west.

Mr Rawiri, from Neutral Bay, died at the scene.

The scene of the fatal hit and run involving a cyclist. Picture: Websters

The crash happened on the corner of Harry Ave and Maud St just before 5pm on Tuesday.

Mrs Ho was charged with a string of offences including dangerous driving causing death, and made an application for bail on Saturday, which was granted.

“I didn’t know I hit anyone,” she said outside Sydney Police Centre at Surry Hills once she was released on bail.

“I didn’t see him.”

Asked what she thought she hit, she said a “piece of metal”.

Vonny Ho was released on bail after being charged with the hit and run death of a cyclist. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Her defence lawyer, Frank Ngo, claimed Mrs Ho only learned her Toyota Corolla was involved in the crash on Thursday night.

“The following morning she approached me and we went to Auburn police,” he told Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday.

“As for the prosecution case, we say there is no failure to assist.”

Prosecutor Scott Thomson opposed bail given the serious nature of the allegations and cited concerns that Mrs Ho would fail to appear in court in the future.

He said it was alleged Mrs Ho reversed over the cyclist at the scene.

“Police allege she has purposefully reversed back over the cyclist before failing to stop at the accident,” Mr Thomson said.

Effendy Chang said his wife thought she had just driven over scrap metal. Picture: Ava Benny-Morrison

Mrs Ho’s husband, Effendy Chang, put forward a $10,000 surety and bail was granted.

Outside court, Mr Change defended his wife — a mother-of-one who works for a shipping company — and claimed she had no idea she’d hit a cyclist.

“She though she just hit some metal,” he said.

“The road is very bright so she just took a left turn and when she hit something she tried to find a safe place to stop.

“Then when she reversed she looked left and right and then she (drove away).

“Check the CCTV, she is not like ‘I have to run because I did something wrong’.”

Mr Chang asked people not to pass judgment on his wife as the case would be taxing on his family.

As part of Mrs Hong’s bail conditions, she has to report to Auburn Police Station twice a week.

The case was adjourned to Burwood Local Court on May 16.

Originally published as Woman accused of reversing over bike rider before fleeing scene