Father jailed over crash that killed son

A Brisbane father has been jailed over a crash in which his son was killed.

Police on the scene of the crash in 2022. Picture: Liam Kidston

A Brisbane father has been jailed over a crash in which his son was killed.

Phillip Andrew Bale was found guilty of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death after a trial in Brisbane’s District Court earlier this month.

The court heard that his son, Jasper, was sitting in the driver’s side back seat of his Holden Commodore while Bale was driving on Manly Road in Wakerley on September 22, 2022.

Phillip Andrew Bale leaves Brisbane Magistrates Court in November 2023. Picture: Glenn Campbell/NCANewsWire

Witness Timothy Barrens said Bale performed a U-turn and his vehicle began veering left before hitting the kerb of a traffic island and spinning about 360 degrees, colliding with a traffic light pole.

The court heard drivers travelling westbound along the road were not permitted to perform a U-turn at the intersection of Hargreaves Road, and there were also no mechanical defects in Bale’s car. There was wet weather and some water on the road that day, the court heard.

Judge Anthony Rafter sentenced Bale to three years imprisonment to be suspended after 12 months.

Bale was also disqualified from driving for a year.

Originally published as Father jailed over crash that killed son