Driver ‘guilty’ over RBT text crash that left cop with amputated leg
A YOUNG Sydney driver who was allegedly texting behind the wheel when he mowed down two cops causing one to lose his foot has pleaded guilty.
NSW
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A YOUNG Sydney driver who was allegedly texting behind the wheel when he mowed down two cops causing one to lose his foot has pleaded guilty.
Surgeons were forced to amputate Jonathan Wright’s leg below the knee while Matthew Foley suffered a fractured leg after Jakob Thornton ploughed into them in Leumeah in February.
The senior constables had been setting up a roadside random breath testing station when they were crushed between Thornton’s Fiat van and a police van.
The 23-year-old serial traffic offender last week pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm at Campbelltown Local Court.
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Thornton’s two counts of cause bodily harm by misconduct in charge of motor vehicle were withdrawn.
The Bankstown man’s charges of negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and driver use mobile phone when not permitted were referred to the District Court as backup charges.
Thornton was bailed in April after his lawyer told the court he’d showed post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms while behind bars.
At the time a judge told Thornton his serious charges usually result in jail time if convicted.
A court had previously heard that Thornton admitted to looking at his phone for up to 20 seconds when he crashed into the officers at 8.20pm on Friday, February 16.
Court documents show Thornton couldn’t remember whether he applied the brakes when he hit the officers at 60km/h on Campbelltown Road.
Thornton’s provisional licence has been suspended four times and he was caught using a mobile phone while driving two years ago.
In June Senior Constables Wright and Foley received a $175,000 donation for their recovery from Camden Police and NSW Police Legacy.
Their colleagues who applied a tourniquet to Sen-Constable Wright’s leg are credited with saving his life.
Sen-Constable Wright has said he and his family were extremely grateful for the community support.
“All the donations, including monetary, meals and groceries have certainly relieved pressure throughout this traumatic time,’’ he said in March.
Thornton has been committed for sentence and his matter will return to court on August 17.
From September motorists on NSW roads will be required to slow down to 40km/h when passing emergency service vehicles with flashing lights.