P-plater Nathan Laidlaw pleads guilty to fatal Nowra crash

A young driver who hit and killed an elderly woman in a south coast town last year while performing an illegal turn had methamphetamine and cocaine in his system, court documents reveal.

Nathan Laidlaw leaving Nowra Local Court. Picture: Tom McGann

A young driver who killed an elderly woman in the Nowra central business district, crashing into her while making an illegal turn, had cocaine and methamphetamine in his system at the time of the tragedy, court documents have revealed.

Shirley Thompson, 88, was struck by a car being driven by Nathan Laidlaw, 25, on Worrigee St on June 14, 2023.

The tragedy left the elderly woman dead at the scene and the Sanctuary Point provisional driver charged with dangerous driving occasioning in death, driving a vehicle with an illicit drug present and not complying with P2 passenger restriction.

Laidlaw pleaded guilty to the charges in the Nowra Local Court on Friday – more than a year since the incident.

Documents tendered to the court reveal Laidlaw was driving a Holden Commodore with three passengers along Worrigee St.

The crash occurred at the intersection of Worrigee St and Nowra Ln. Picture: Google Maps

A statement of agreed facts said Laidlaw’s P2 licence was restricted to one passenger at the time of the offence.

Laidlaw’s vehicle came to the intersection of Worrigee St and Nowra Ln, where Ms Thompson was waiting to cross the road.

Nathan Laidlaw will be sentenced in November. Picture: Tom McGann

The facts said the intersection displayed a “no right turn” sign; a fact pointed out by one of Laidlaw’s passengers before he turned his car, hitting Ms Thompson.

Ms Thompson was halfway across the street when she was hit by Laidlaw’s car, with the impact sending her flying off the bonnet and landing heavily on the roadway.

She sustained a laceration to her hand and a brain bleed and could not be revived.

Attending police took Laidlaw to the Nowra police station, where an oral fluid test found him to have methamphetamine and cocaine in his system.

Nathan Laidlaw’s case has been heard in the Nowra Local Court. Picture: Dylan Arvela

Documents stated Laidlaw informed police “I didn’t see her” when they questioned him on the crash.

The 25-year-old was charged the following day before being granted bail.

Laidlaw was represented by Emma Harrison in Nowra Local Court on October 4 when he entered his guilty pleas.

Magistrate Lisa Viney adjourned the case for sentencing in the Nowra District Court on November 18.

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