Truck driver Richard John Lamond, 59, pleads guilty to dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm after crash
A Northern Rivers truck driver answered a Facetime call moments before he accidentally shunted a woman’s Mazda off the road, leaving her badly injured.
Police & Courts
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A Kyogle truckie answered a Facetime call moments before he accidentally shunted a woman’s car off the road, leaving her suffering injuries requiring multiple surgeries.
Richard John Lamond, 59, pleaded guilty at Lismore Local Court on Monday to dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm.
Lamond was driving a 10 tonne DAF tipper truck with an attached trailer weighing 5.5 tonne along the Bruxner Hwy at Mckees Hill towards Casino about 12:55pm on December 5, 2022.
A 69-year-old woman driving a blue Mazda in front of Lamond’s truck indicated for about 200 metres and slowed down to make a turn.
Lamond’s truck “collided heavily” with the rear of the Mazda, causing the vehicle “to be shunted off the left shoulder of the road“, court documents state.
The Mazda hit a drain and rolled, coming to rest on its roof.
“The victim was trapped in her car until being released by police rescue,” the documents state.
The woman was taken to Lismore Base Hospital with “very serious injuries”.
“These injuries included, but were not limited to, a fractured right arm and wrist, fractured left shoulder with torn ligaments and muscle, dislocated left elbow, serious bruising of her thighs and mild bruising on her brain,” the documents state.
“She has undergone numerous surgeries and is still attending regular physiotherapy.”
Police investigations revealed the truck did not have any mechanical defects or faults which could have contributed to the crash.
Lamond’s mobile phone was seized and extracts revealed Lamond answered an incoming Apple Facetime call just before the collision.
During a police interview, Lamond admitted to picking up the call.
Police described Lamond as showing genuine remorse and stated he was cooperative as they conducted inquiries.
Lamond is due to be sentenced in Lismore Local Court on September 4.
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