Lisa Curtale: San Remo hit-and-run driver sentenced over death of Adam Beattie
It’s been nearly two years since Central Coast father-of-three Adam Beattie was fatally struck in San Remo. The woman charged over the hit and run has finally been sentenced.
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The woman charged with the hit and run death of Budgewoi father of three Adam Beattie has avoided jail.
Lisa Maria Curtale, 45, was sentenced with a two year Intensive Corrections Order at Gosford District Court on Tuesday. An ICO is the equivalent of a jail sentenced served in the community.
Ms Curtale sobbed as Judge Tanya Bright handed down the ruling, while the family of Mr Beattie were ropeable at what they believed was a lenient sentence considering the loss of their loved one.
It has been nearly two years since Ms Curtale fatally struck Mr Beattie as he walked beside Scenic Drive in San Remo just after 11pm on July 28, 2018.
Court facts state Ms Curtale had stopped for cigarettes at the Metro service station on July 28 before travelling south on Scenic Drive and colliding with Mr Beattie who was walking between the guard rail and the solid white line.
She kept driving and came forward to police on July 30 after hearing reports of the death. She later told police she thought she hit “an animal” and did not stop because it was dark and she was “scared”.
However the court heard she drove past the spot where she believed she collided with the “animal” the next day to check nothing was there. She did not see Mr Beattie’s body which was flung over the guard rail at the time of impact.
Ms Curtale pleaded guilty to charges of failing to stop and assist following a fatal collision and negligent driving occasioning death.
She received the ICO and 450 hours of community service for failing to stop and assist and was given a two year Community Corrections Order for the charge of negligent driving. She has also been disqualified from driving for two years.
The night of the accident Mr Beattie and his partner Zoe Breakwell had been at the Doyalson RSL when they had an argument. Mr Beattie left on foot, while Ms Breakwell started to drive home. However she drove past Mr Beattie twice encouraging him to get in the car however he wanted to walk home.
The next morning, Mr Breakwell called police who advised her to retrace Mr Beattie’s steps. When she drove along Scenic Highway she spotted his shoe at the guard rail.
In her victim impact statement, she described the moment she found his body.
“I ran to Adam calling out, ‘bub I’m here, have you been hurt? Get up please.’ The barrier felt like it was never ending until I got to Adam’s lifeless body … the world around me came to a stop. Adam was lifeless and I was speechless. He was dead and that was all that was repeating in my head.”
The court heard Ms Curtale had struggled with anxiety and other mental health issues over the years. A doctors report tabled to the court indicated her anxiety would have prevented her getting out of the car that night. Since the accident she has not worked, has ongoing nightmares and barely leaves her house.
Ms Curtale expressed her remorse in a letter to the family of Mr Beattie.
“I am writing to say how deeply sorry I am,” she said.
“I understand nothing I say can ever be enough. Everyday I think about how your children don’t have their father anymore. I am consumed with sadness everyday for you.”
Judge Tanya Bright said when determining Ms Curtale’s sentence she took into account that the impact occurred late at night, with the victim flung into bushes, and Ms Curtale told police she thought she hit an animal and was scared to get out of he car.
She also took into account that once Ms Curtale became aware a man was killed, she handed herself into police, while also acknowledging her remorse.
“I am satisfied the offender is genuinely remorseful … I am satisfied she is unlikely to reoffend,” Judge Bright said.
“It’s clear the events are an overwhelming tragedy for everyone involved.”