William Back sentenced for fatal collision with pedestrian in Riverwood

A motorbike rider had a moment of “inattention” when he swerved to avoid a car and killed an elderly pedestrian crossing a road in Riverwood last year.

William Back, 61, was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to negligent driving occasioning death. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A truck driver has learnt his fate after he had a moment of “inattention” when his motorbike collided with and killed an elderly female pedestrian last year.

William Back, 61, was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to negligent driving occasioning death.

Agreed facts tendered to court said Back was riding his motorbike along Belmore Road, Riverwood on May 3 about 10.15am, when he came around a small bend in the road.

A yellow car had stopped at the intersection and moved forward slightly.

Back, who was travelling under the speed limit, had to swerve right to avoid the yellow car.

Police image of the crash scene. Picture: NSW Police

His handlebars then collided with an 84-year-old woman Yong Deng and knocked her onto the road.

The driver of the yellow car left the scene but Back, who was injured with several broken bones, went to the woman’s side.

Emergency services attended a short time later where Ms Deng was taken to St George Hospital in a critical condition and about 1.30pm she died.

He then assisted police and told officers that by the time he had straightened his bike on the road, he did not have time to react to avoid hitting the woman.

In court, Back’s defence lawyer Monty Stidwill said his client was an Aboriginal man who had a “deprived childhood” but became a “humble” truck driver, adding character references spoke of Back as a “decent man”.

The scene of a crash where 84-year-old Yong Deng was injured. Picture: NSW Police

Magistrate Hugh Donnelly found the level of negligence was at the “lower end” and determined Back was “distracted by movement of a car” and there was a “degree of inattention”.

He took into account Back tried to help the woman following the reaction and the crash was undoubtedly “a very tragic incident”.

“The court must recognise the significance of a person’s life being taken,” Mr Donnelly said.

He acknowledged Back suffered injuries including a broken wrist, collarbone and shattered foot, and his depression had been exacerbated since the crash.

William back was convicted and disqualified from driving.

Mr Donnelly also took into account Back’s previous physical injury of an amputated leg and foot caused when he was a pedestrian and struck by a car.

The magistrate accepted Back showed “significant shame and remorse” and was unlikely to reoffend.

Back’s driving record which included about six speeding offences, was also taken into account.

Mr Donnelly noted it was not “completely pristine” but was understandable given he was a professional driver.

Back was convicted, placed on a community correction order for 18 months and disqualified from driving for 18 months.