Craig Ian Smith: Family of man killed in street race crash tells of ongoing anguish
The family of an innocent man who was killed after being struck by a car travelling at speeds of 140km/h during a street race has told a court about the devastating impact it has had on their lives.
The Wagga News
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The family of a much-loved Wagga man has told a court about their ongoing anguish after he was killed during a street race between two other men in 2017.
Ashmont's Joshua Aaron Byrne and Batlow's Matthew Thomas Cahill appeared in Wagga District Court today charged with one count each of manslaughter.
Byrne, 22, and Cahill, 20, pleaded guilty to the charges in September last year.
Court documents state that in October 2017, the two men were racing each other at more than 140km/h in a 50km/h zone on Coleman Street, Turvey Park, before Byrne's Holden Commodore went onto the wrong side of the road and smashed into a ute that Craig Ian Smith was driving.
The 53-year-old died instantly.
In an emotional reading of her victim impact statement today, Mr Smith’s daughter, Kailah Fraser, said she could never put into words the family’s pain.
“I did not wake up (that day) thinking my world would change forever in such a tragic way,” she said.
“Dad was the rock of our family, he was the most generous person I’ve ever met and we were very close.”
Mrs Fraser described her father as the family’s “biggest cheerleader” and said she had changed since his death.
“I’m not as happy and don’t look forward to things as much … I’m more angry and don’t find the joy in the things I used to,” she said.
Mrs Fraser also spoke about her parents’ relationship as being “inseparable” and one that she had looked up to.
“They were soulmates and still so even after 35 years together,” Mrs Fraser said.
She said she and her husband has had financial difficulties after leaving their jobs and business in Queensland to move back to Wagga.
Mr Smith’s other daughter, Jaimee Smith, told the court her memories of the day were blurry while other parts were vivid and “would never go away”.
“I had no idea nor could I ever be prepared for what I saw,” Ms Smith said.
“Panic set in as I walked around the corner and that image of the accident will forever be something that I see every day.
Ms Smith recalled how she had to “hold myself together for the family”.
“At 25 years old, I should not have had to call my uncles to tell them they had just lost their brother … and to call my sister and her husband on the Gold Coast to tell them that we just lost our dad,” she said.
“Every one of those calls will stay with me for the rest of my life - remembering how hurt everyone was and the devastation and pain.”
She described her father as the most loving person.
“My dad is gone by no choice of his own - just the actions of someone else,” Ms Smith said.
Judge Gordon Lerve said death of Mr Smith was a “particularly serious example of manslaughter”.
“These two young men deliberately embarked upon an extremely dangerous course of conduct resulting in that death,” he said.
“The facts indicate they speed they reached was well in excess of 100km/h - something twice in excess of the applicable speed limit.”
Judge Lerve indicated that a “very substantial sentence of imprisonment” would be imposed on both offenders, subject to future submissions by the prosecution and defence.
Both men have had their bail revoked and their sentencing is scheduled for March 16.