Truckie Geoffrey Ronald Lovegrove jailed after horror Bruce Hwy crash that killed girlfriend
The daughter of a woman killed in a Bruce Highway rollover has shared her “hate” at the driver’s sentencing, telling him she hoped he would suffer for the rest of his life.
Police & Courts
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An “experienced” Queensland truck driver has been jailed for the horror Bruce Highway rollover that claimed the life of his girlfriend, while he was “grossly fatigued and unfit to drive” with meth in his system.
His victim’s heartbroken daughter shared her “hate” for the man in a gut-wrenching statement at his sentencing, telling him she hoped he would suffer for the rest of his life.
Geoffrey Ronald Lovegrove, 52, faced Brisbane District Court on Tuesday for the horror truck rollover that claimed the life of his girlfriend Teniel Kirkwood.
The 36-year-old mother of two had been a passenger in a loaded truck driven by Lovegrove, a professional truck driver, along the Bruce Highway in the early hours of May 24, 2023.
Neither of the pair were wearing seatbelts when Lovegrove fell asleep at the wheel – with Ms Kirkwood already asleep.
The truck veered across the wrong side of the road on the highway near Monduran, travelling for about 96 metres up an embankment and rolling over.
It’s likely Ms Kirkwood was killed instantly from the impact, Judge Tracy Fantin told the court at Lovegrove’s sentencing.
Ms Kirkwood’s youngest daughter, who had been 17 at the time of her mother’s death, wrote in a victim impact statement how the events had devastated her mental health.
“The day I found out mum passed away absolutely broke my heart,” Crown Prosecutor Ryan Godfrey quoted.
“When you (Lovegrove) rang that day and said you would be there for me, that meant something to me.
“But that was an absolute lie, because I haven’t heard from you since that day.
“You took away my mum, all because of a stupid decision – taking drugs and driving.
“She won’t be able to see my special moments in my life like my 21st birthday, if I end up getting married or even having kids – she won’t be able to see any of this and it’s all on you.
“You took my mum away … I hope you suffer for the rest of your life.”
One of Lovegrove’s own daughters, who came to court to support him, broke into tears as she listened to the statement.
It’s understood Lovegrove and Ms Kirkwood had been in a relationship for under a year and had been living together at the time of the crash.
Mr Godfrey told the court Lovegrove had been witnessed at the scene of the crash yelling out the name “Teniel” with blood on his face.
Lovegrove had told multiple paramedics at the scene that he had fallen asleep at the wheel, and that he’d only had about two to five hours of sleep in the last 24 hours, Mr Godfrey said.
He had been driving with Ms Kirkwood as his passenger since around 8pm the night before, but had taken three breaks in the hours prior to the crash.
Lovegrove had only been back on the road for about 30 minutes since his third break – which lasted over one-and-a-half hours – at the time of the crash.
Judge Fantin said Lovegrove’s fatigue must have had an cumulative effect from the days prior, given the amount of stops he had taken on the night itself.
Tests revealed 0.24mgs of methamphetamine in Lovegrove’s blood after the crash, which Judge Fantin labelled a “reasonably high concentration”.
Lovegrove was initially charged with dangerous driving causing death while adversely affected – which he had intended to take to trial.
But he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death on Tuesday, after the prosecution agreed to drop the “adversely affected” feature.
Judge Fantin, who initially questioned the circumstance being dropped, ultimately accepted that there was no evidence that proved the methamphetamine had affected Lovegrove’s driving.
But she said his choice to take methamphetamine was “completely inconsistent” with his duties as an “experienced” truck driver.
She further noted Lovegrove’s traffic history was one “by no means one to be proud of” – including multiple speeding offences and a fine for driving without due care just four months before Ms Kirkwood’s death.
There was no allegation he was speeding at the time of Ms Kirkwood’s death.
Lovegood had also been convicted in 2013 for driving a truck with methamphetamine in his system in New South Wales, the court heard.
Defence lawyer Lachlan Ygoa-McKeown said his client was shattered by the loss of his girlfriend and would never drive a truck again.
He noted Lovegrove had been hospitalised for a week following the crash with a life-threatening injury to his neck.
He submitted that a range of up to four years imprisonment would be appropriate, whereas prosecutor Mr Godfrey submitted for just three-and-a-half years.
Judge Fantin told Mr Godfrey she viewed three-and-a-half years to be too low a penalty.
“I accept that the death of your partner, for which you are entirely responsible, amounts to extra-curial punishment,” she told Lovegrove.
But she said Lovegrove’s failure to manage his fatigue was a “very significant consideration”.
“In my view you would have appreciated that you were grossly fatigued and unfit to drive,” Judge Fantin said.
“I appreciate that there is a great deal of pressure on heavy vehicle drivers to drive to timetables within particular time frames.
“But that risk or pressure cannot outweigh your obligations to other road users – and in this case to the passenger.”
Lovegrove was sentenced to four years jail, to be suspended for a four year operational period after he serves 14 months in actual custody.
His licence was disqualified for four years.
Outside court, Teniel’s mother Kerin said she was “not happy with the results”.
“Her kids, they’re going to suffer for the rest of their lives,” she said.
Ms Kirkwood recounted the shock of finding out about Teniel’s death from the police – followed by a phone call from Lovegrove telling them he “fell asleep”.
“I said to the police that morning, before he even rang me, check his history, do a drug test,” Ms Kirkwood said.
She claimed Lovegrove had had a “bad rep” on the road.
In their victim impact statement, Teniel’s parents had written that Lovegood had “destroyed (their) lives, broken (their) hearts into pieces.”
“That will never be fixed.”
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