Jungjun Ahn fled crash scene after going into shock after hitting elderly man

A 77-year-old man was left dying on the side of the road after being hit by a car. When police caught up with the driver he had a broken windscreen, damaged bonnet and couldn’t speak.

A CLEANER says he did not stop after his car hit and killed an elderly man on a major Gold Coast road because he panicked and was stressed.

Jungjun Ahn struck 77-year-old David Douglas Frew on the Gold Coast Highway near Miami State High School just after 3am on August 31 last year.

Ahn did not stop and kept going until he reached work at the Burleigh Surf Club almost 2km away.

Mr Frew was found by another passer-by who stopped and called an ambulance. He died in hospital.

Mr Ahn pleaded guilty in Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday to failing to remain at an incident and exhibit proper respect to the deceased.

Magistrate Dzenita Balic sentenced the 34-year-old to eight months’ prison, wholly suspended for 10 months.

Jungjun Ahn (right) leaves Southport Courthouse with a supporter

“It seems evident that you are a person who was genuinely shocked at what had occurred,” she said.

Ms Balic said she took into account Ahn’s lack of criminal history and that he had only one minor offence on his traffic history.

She said it was “highly unlikely” that Ahn would ever be before the courts again.

Prosecutor Daniel Cuscheiri said: “After being struck by the vehicle the victim was still alive and unconscious.

“The defendant knew that he impacted the vehicle. There was damage to the bonnet and windscreen and he made no attempt to come forward until contacted by police.”

CCTV footage showed Mr Frew was wearing dark clothes and walking down the middle of the lane.

Mr Frew was found on the side of the road. It is not clear how he got there.

After being called to the scene police were able to connect Ahn’s silver Honda to the crash via CCTV footage.

They then went to Burleigh where he worked.

When they arrived they saw the Honda in the car park with a broken windscreen and damaged front bumper.

Mr Cuscheiri said Ahn approached police and handed them his licence but was unable to talk to them due to shock.

Police found blood on the bumper that was a DNA match with Mr Frew.

The court was not provided with a victim impact statement from Mr Frew’s family.

Defence lawyer Bill Potts, of Potts Lawyers said Ahn was remorseful for his actions and had completed the Queensland traffic offenders’ program and undertook driving lessons despite already having an open licence.

“There is no suggestion of speed, he remained at all times within his own lane, there is no allegation of erratic driving and the incident occurred in an area where it was poorly lit and the deceased was wearing dark clothing,” he said.

“He was deep in shock and such was the level of panic and shock that when police turned up he was incapable of speaking.

“He was so distraught and so emotionally wrought that he was incapable of communication beyond providing his licence.”

Mr Potts said Ahn was remorseful.

“If he could go back in time he would have acted differently,” he said.

“If he had been more calm he would have acted differently.”

Mr Potts said Ahn, who was born in South Korea and is on a student visa, has not worked at the surf club since the crash.

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Originally published as Jungjun Ahn fled crash scene after going into shock after hitting elderly man