Joshua Wright jailed for killing Jarred McGregor in Sutherland car crash

A 17-year-old boy was killed in a ‘completely avoidable’ horror crash after the driver sped 190km/h during a police pursuit in Sydney’s south. He has now learned his fate for claiming the life of the teen.

Joshua Wright was jailed for nine years for killing Jarred McGregor in a horrific car crash.

A young man who made “catastrophic decisions” when he drove erratically up to speeds of 190km/h to avoid police before he crashed and killed a teen has learnt his fate in court.

Joshua Marcus Wright, 22, crashed his car into a power pole on Rawson Ave, Sutherland, on April 18 last year following a short police pursuit, killing his passenger 17-year-old Jarred McGregor.

Wright pleaded guilty to aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death, aggravated dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, and driving while his licence was expired.

He was sentenced in Downing Centre District Court on Friday to nine years in jail with a non-parole period of six years.

Jarred McGregor loved riding motorbikes and being outdoors.

Judge Paul McGuire said the events were “impossibly sad” and “completely avoidable”, adding Wright made a series of “catastrophic decisions” and he was “solely and squarely responsible”.

Agreed facts said Wright and other friends went drinking at Pyrmont Hotel on April 17, 2022, when he became heavily intoxicated before a girlfriend of one of the group drove the men home.

Wright and his friend were dropped at his Illawong house about 3.30am before he and a friend drove to Helensburgh to pick up Jarred.

After Jarred was collected from his home a highway patrol officer saw Wright travelling more than 70km/h along the Princes Highway about 4.15am with in-car police video showing Wright wove between lanes.

Wright did not stop when lights and sirens were activated and the officer initiated a pursuit.

Wright travelled about 190km/h in an 80km/h speed zone where he overtook cars, motorcyclist and a truck.

Police terminated the pursuit for safety reasons and Wright continued to speed above 145km/h in a 50km/h zone, overtaking a semi-trailer in the left bicycle lane.

Wright hit the kerb along Rawson Ave, which caused the tyres to blow out, and he travelled over a speed bump.

As he approached the roundabout at the Sutherland Leisure Centre he lost control and collided with a large tree and power pole.

Judge McGuire said Wright drove “erratically and dangerously” and the car was “almost completely unrecognisable” after the crash.

Jarred died at the scene before the other passenger and Wright were taken to hospital.

Andrew McGregor Senior and his son, also Andrew McGregor spoke about Jarred ahead of the sentencing. Picture: Julian Andrews

The passenger required surgery after suffering serious spinal and internal injuries along with a foot fracture and laceration to his hand.

The court heard Wright had a blood-alcohol level of 0.18 which was in the mid range, and his P2 licence had expired 10 days before.

The court heard at the hospital the passenger said to Wright, “you shouldn’t have legged it bro” and he replied, “I’m sorry bro, did I hurt anyone else?”.

Wright was also subject to a jail sentence in the community at the time for an unrelated assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company where he was prohibited from consuming alcohol or drugs.

Judge McGuire said Wright “abandoned responsibility” and he must have know he was a risk to himself and others, adding he was still attempting to escape police even though police stopped the pursuit 30 seconds earlier.

Judge McGuire acknowledged the McGregor family’s grief and said was “incredibly moved” by the victim impact statements and their strength, noting they had shown courage, decency and dignity.

The court heard Wright had been studying carpentry at TAFE and completing his apprenticeship; used drugs and drank heavily.

Jarred McGregor’s parents Rachel and Andrew at Downing Centre on Friday after the sentencing of Joshua Wright. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A psychologist diagnosed him with alcohol substance abuse disorder, panic disorder and PTSD following the crash.

The court heard Wright suffered from depression flashbacks, nightmares and heard Jarred’s voice before a loud bang.

Judge McGuire accepted Wright was truly remorseful, regretted his actions and showed insight into his actions by acknowledging the pain caused to Jarred’s family and his own, saying his “heart ached” for the McGregor family and he “would never forgive himself”.

Outside court, Andrew McGregor said the sentence, while he knew would never bring back Jarred, “was better than I was expecting” and he acknowledged Judge McGuire took into consideration his family’s feeling.

“I’ve relived this most nights,’’ he said.

“It is very difficult to sit in court. There is going to be no sentence that serves justice but it will be good to put this court process behind us.’’

Mr McGregor’s wife Rachel said Wright’s family still got to see him but she would never see her son again and she had “lost everything”.

Wright will be eligible for release to parole in April 2028.