Wilfred Tayag appeals jail sentence for Taren Point crash

An accountant jailed for driving through an intersection resulting in a collision with a motorcyclist, causing “life-changing” injuries, has appealed his jail sentence.

An accountant has successfully appealed his jail sentence and has been sentenced to home detention after he caused “catastrophic injuries” to a motorcyclist when he failed to give way in Sydney’s south.

Wilfred Tayag, 33 of Forest Lodge, was jailed for six months and two weeks with a non-parole period of four months in Sutherland Local Court in May after he pleaded guilty to negligent driving causing grievous bodily harm and not giving way to a vehicle.

The motorcyclist suffered a traumatic brain injury, multiple fractures which required surgery and had sight issues following the collision.

Tayag appealed the severity of the sentence with Judge Garry Neilson allowing him to abide by home detention condition where he can only leave his house to go to work.

In District Court on Thursday, Tayag was placed on an intensive correction order for six months and two weeks and was disqualified from driving for 18 months.

Wilfred Tayag at Sutherland Local Court.

Judge Neilson agreed with Magistrate Philip Stewart’s assessment the crash was of “very high seriousness” noting the victim sustained “catastrophic injuries”.

He noted Magistrate Stewart was not asked to consider a home detention order and accepted that was a suitable punishment for Tayag given his “strong personal circumstances” and that it was his first time in custody.

The crash caused significant injuries. Picture: Supplied

Agreed facts previously tendered to court said Tayag was driving a Volkswagen Passat at Caringbah on September 8 when he stopped at a give way sign on Bay Rd, to turn onto Taren Point Rd.

Tayag made the turn without giving way and collided with motorcyclist Alexander Hess who was flung into the air and over the car’s bonnet.

Mr Hess was initially unconscious, with bystanders rushing to his aid, before emergency services arrived.

He sustained a number of serious injuries, including fractures to the skull, dislocated and fractured pelvis, fractured eye socket, damage to nerves behind his eyes, damaged pituitary gland, fractured jaw, fractures to his right tibia and fibula.

Mr Hess required surgery to put pins and plate into his pelvis, leg and arm, and was in an induced coma for 11 days.

Mr Hess, who had been a fly-in, fly-out worker on the Snowy Mountain Hydro project, could not remember the collision and was discharged from hospital in January.

A St George Hospital specialist trauma doctor detailed the extent of Mr Hess’ injuries which included multiple surgeries and long recovery times.

As a result of the skull fracture, Mr Hess developed cranial nerve palsy which caused him double vision, visual field loss with partial blindness causing tunnel vision, a significant traumatic brain injury and memory loss which required brain rehabilitation.

Mr Stewart said Mr Hess’ injuries were “life-changing” and would require prolonged or lifelong care and support, causing “an irreversible change” from his previous life given he would unlikely be able to drive or return to the same work.