Injured motorbike riders speak about shocking impact of crash near Kyogle which killed Mackay man Wes ‘Pop’ Carlton in 2019
A driver crossed to the wrong side of the road in his Kia, slamming into six Harley riders out on a Sunday cruise in northern NSW – killing one man and injuring four. Now, heartbroken victims have spoken out.
Lismore
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A driver crossed to the wrong side of the road in his Kia, slamming into six Harley Davidson riders out on a Sunday cruise in northern NSW – killing one man and injuring four others.
Wes ‘Pop’ Carlton, 55, from Eimeo near Mackay in Queensland died at the roadside after Royce McCosker’s hatch collided with the Sons Of The Southern Cross SMC riders.
McCosker, now 56, was found guilty by jury in August following the horrific crash near Kyogle on October 20, 2019.
He pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving occasioning death-drive manner dangerous, and three counts of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm – drive manner dangerous.
McCosker was travelling north home to Warwick from Kyogle, about 40 kilometres northwest of Lismore at the time of the crash on Summerland Way, near Runnymede Rd, about 1.45pm.
He has claimed he did not realise the riders were coming until the last moment.
McCosker faced Judge Jennifer English in Lismore District Court on Friday.
He was hauled into the dock wearing handcuffs, escorted by three sheriffs
Victims from the tragedy travelled from Queensland to deliver impact statements.
Geoff Wells, 60, told the court he suffered fractures to his legs, knees, ankles, and a shoulder. He was placed in an induced coma after the crash.
“My family and friends were told not to expect me to survive,” he said.
Due to the Covid pandemic, Mr Wells spent more than a year alone recovering in different hospitals, facing failed surgeries.
He remained by himself when doctors told him his best chance at improving quality of life was to amputate his right leg.
“It was three days by myself without my family trying to decide if I wanted to have my body amputated and on September 20, 2020 I said ‘yes’,” he said.
“It was very strange to wake up in ICU to not see my leg there.”
Mr Wells said his left ankle had to be rebroken and all plates taken out and reset in 2021 – another painful blow.
He said needing a carer to take him to the shower and toilet was “very degrading”
Breaking down in court, he exclaimed: “How did this happen?”
He said he had been looking forward to his golden years, but would now be confined to a wheelchair.
Ken Hyde, 57, and his wife, meanwhile, were forced to abandon work to focus on his recovery for a year.
“I couldn’t chase my grandkids,” he said.
“I couldn’t take a simple trip to the toilet without assistance.”
Mr Hyde said after losing his best mate, Pop, he would sit staring at a picture trying to remember the good times.
He said he does not ride anymore because he has “lost his passion and nerve”.
“This day changed my life forever … my mental and emotional state … it has had a lasting impact on my life,” he said.
Mr Hyde now needs assistance walking and to remain active.
Defence barrister Simon Apps said McCosker pleaded not guilty as a “coping mechanism”.
He said his client’s psychological report showed genuine remorse and that McCosker said he spotted the motorcycles for only a second before the crash.
Mr Apps asked the judge to consider a lower range jail-term when sentencing McCosker.
Judge English told the court there was “no way” McCosker did not see or hear the bikes approaching until the last second.
“He saw those bikes coming, he heard those Harley Davidson’s coming at 100 km/h,” she said.
The jury accepted expert and police evidence that McCosker’s Kia was over the road’s centre line when the crash happened.
The Crown said McCosker was morally culpable due to his vehicle’s speed and because he was looking away from the road
McCosker will stay in custody before facing the court again for sentencing early in 2024.
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