Akis Livas, 57, jailed over horrific crash that killed Blake Corney
A truckie suffering symptoms of sleep apnoea will spend time in jail after causing the death of much-loved Canberra boy Blake Corney as he was on his way to Toy ‘R’ Us with his family.
Canberra Star
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The Canberra truckie who fell asleep at the wheel and ploughed into a family’s car, killing much-loved four-year-old boy Blake Corney, could have been jailed for longer, his family said.
Akis Emmanouel Livas, 57, was on Friday jailed for three years and three months with a non-parole period of two years and three months, after pleading guilty in February to culpable driving causing death.
Justice David Mossop said there was no way to describe the “raw suffering” Blake’s family had been through.
Livas, who is heavily overweight, had long suffered symptoms of sleep apnoea and was drowsier than usual when he “blacked out” at the wheel of his landscaping truck and slammed into the family’s car in July 2018, while they were on their way to Toys ‘R’ Us.
Blake was trapped in the back seat with horrific brain injuries as his family tried to free his body from the wreck.
The court has previously heard the family had endured “extraordinary suffering” since the crash.
Livas has more than 50 convictions for driving offences on his rap sheet.
He twice failed to attend appointments for a sleep study which could have seen his condition formally diagnosed and treated.
Livas also failed to tell his bosses at Canberra Sand, Gravel and Landscaping Supplies about his potential sleep apnoea.
Outside court, Blake’s family told reporters they questioned whether the jail term Livas was handed met community expectations, and urged people to take up the case with their local members.
Justice Mossop said in court that no jail sentence would alleviate Blake’s family’s suffering.
The family are expected to push for more rigorous medical testing regimes for truck drivers and for mandated improvements in safety technology for heavy vehicles when Blake’s death goes before the ACT Coroners Court later this year.
The coronial proceedings have been on hold until Livas’s criminal proceedings were finalised.
Justice Mossop on Friday also cancelled Livas’s drivers licence until he is eligible for parole.
If released, Livas will have to prove he is medically fit to drive before he can get behind the wheel.