Camille Jago sues Akis Livas, NRMA over crash that killed Blake Corney

Years after a killer truck driver was jailed, his victim’s mother has launched civil action over a fatal crash.

Blake Corney, who died in a crash on the Monaro Highway in Canberra in 2018. Picture: Supplied

The mother of a four-year-old fatal crash victim has launched legal action, suing the driver who killed her son and an insurance company for personal injury.

Camille Jago was travelling to Toys R Us with her husband and children when truck driver Akis Emmanouel Livas rear-ended the family car while it was stationary at a set of traffic lights in Canberra in July 2018.

Three members of the family survived but Ms Jago’s eldest son, Blake Corney, suffered catastrophic head injuries and died at the scene on the Monaro Highway.

Livas, now aged in his early 60s, was sentenced in 2020 to three years and three months in jail after he pleaded guilty to a charge of culpable driving causing death.

Years later, the ACT Supreme Court is set to hear civil action stemming from the incident.

The ACT courts, where the case is set to be heard in July. Picture: Sam Turner

In a statement of claim obtained by this masthead, solicitor Katherine Waterford alleges Ms Jago suffered 42 injuries and disabilities as a result of the crash.

They include physical ailments and psychological injuries, such as grief, flashbacks, sensitivity to sudden and unexpected sound, sadness, anger and loss of motivation.

Ms Waterford goes on to list nine health professionals who have treated Ms Jago.

The lawsuit includes claims for economic loss, out-of-pocket expenses and domestic assistance.

Among other things, the statement of claim outlines how Ms Jago required about 10 months of leave from her job as an accountant following the crash.

While she has since returned to work, the statement of claim describes changes to her role and a reduction in her working hours.

Livas and the NRMA, the third-party insurer of the truck he was driving, admit he breached the duty of care he owed to Ms Jago and concede his negligence caused the crash.

All other elements of the civil case are in dispute, however, with Livas and the NRMA denying the precise particulars of the negligence alleged by Ms Jago’s lawyers.

There is also contention around the impact Ms Jago claims the crash has had on her, including the extent to which she sustained injuries and disabilities, if at all.

“The defendants deny that [Ms Jago] suffered injuries, loss or damage to the extent alleged in the statement of claim,” a defence, filed by lawyer Sarah McJannett, concludes.

The case is set to be heard over four days in July.