Jigme Wosel: Dee Why garbo sentenced for running red light and hitting cyclist with his truck

Dee Why garbo Jigme Wosel, who was behind the wheel of his garbage truck when it went through a red light and hit a cyclist, was sentenced in Manly Local Court

Jigme Wosel, of Dee Why, outside Manly Local Court, where he was sentenced for running a red light in the garbage truck he was driving and seriously injuring a cyclist at Cremorne in October 2019. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

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A Sydney garbo suffered “momentary inattention” just before he drove his massive truck through a red light and collided with a cyclist, Manly Local Court heard.

The impact left the rider with multiple broken bones, bleeding on the brain and memory loss.

But Jigme Wosel, 32, avoided a potential stint behind bars when he was sentenced on Thursday and instead was ordered to do 50 hour’s community service.

Jogme Wosel was driving a garbage truck when he went through a red light at this intersection in Cremorne in October last year, critically injuring a cyclist on an early morning ride. Picture: Google Maps

Wosel, who was sacked by garbage collection company URM after the collision on the Lower North Shore in October last year, was also disqualified from driving for 12 months. He was also placed on an 18-month Community Corrections Order.

The court heard that the cyclist, Jonathon Law, was critically injured at 5.45am at the intersection of Belgrave and Young streets at Cremorne after the Iveco garbage truck went through a red light.

Documents tendered to court said Wosel’s truck first had a minor collision with a white ute heading west along Belgrave St before the garbo braked suddenly in the middle of the intersection.

Jigme Wosel, of Dee Why, outside Manly Local Court, where he was sentenced for running a red light in the garbage truck. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

Mr Law, who was riding into the intersection on a green light collided with the side of the truck.

He suffered multiple injuries including swelling and bleeding to the brain; memory loss; a fractured pelvis and ribs as well as multiple fractures to his left shoulder which needed surgery to insert metal pins into the joint.

In a facts sheet tendered to the court police said Wosel told them that after the ute “drove past his truck, he heard a loud bang and viewed the victim lying on the road on the right side of (Wosel’s) vehicle”.

“I might have run the red light,” he told police.

The intersection of Young and Belgrave streets at Cremorne. Picture: Google Maps

Wosel pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm.

His Legal Aid solicitor Fiona Hadlington said her client was significantly stressed around the time of the collision due to family and financial difficulties.

“It was a case of momentary inattention,” Ms Hadlington said.

“He is not a man who has abandoned his responsibilities and was going through the red light regardless.

Jigme Wosel, of Dee Why, said he did not mean to drive his truck through a red light. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

“It was carelessness more so than a deliberate act.”

Police prosecutor Corey Wolven said Wosel’s moral culpability was increased due to the size and weight of the vehicle he was driving and the injuries it caused to the victim.

Magistrate Scott Nash said he accepted Wosel’s submission that he was momentarily inattentive and that he would not be sending him to jail “despite the injuries caused by your actions”.

“It was carelessness on your part,” Mr Nash said.