Jerrica Mitchell-Coburn admits to hit-and-run that left Shaniel Bowe with shattered pelvis, hip
Larrikin teen apprentice Shaniel Bowe was on his way to work when he was knocked from his motorcycle early on April 1. Now, a woman has confessed to the hit-and-run.
Police & Courts
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A Lake Macquarie woman has admitted to an early morning hit-and-run that left a motorcyclist in surgery for multiple fractures.
Jerrica Mitchell-Coburn, 28, on Wednesday pleaded guilty in Belmont Local Court to the collision with tradie Shaniel Bowe.
She entered pleas for three charges, including negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm; failing to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing grievous bodily harm; and not giving particulars to injured person.
Mr Bowe, 18, was knocked from his motorcycle on Douglas St, Wallsend, about 5.45am on April 1.
He was found lying injured in the gutter before being taken to John Hunter Hospital for nine hours of emergency surgery.
The apprentice fitter and machinist’s hip and pelvis had been shattered, and his thigh bone, shin and nose also fractured.
“After reading his medical report, we are amazed that (the surgeon) could actually put his hip back together at all,” Mr Bowe’s mum Kylie said at the time.
“There are several one centimetre gaps where pieces of his shattered hip were too small to reattach with screws.
“I guess that is why (the surgeon) is one of the best in his field.”
Ms Bowe said her son’s first port-of-call after being released from hospital had been the crash scene.
“It was typical Shaniel,” she said.
“Not only did we have to make a stop on the way home from hospital, he just had to get out of the car and pose for an ‘I’m doing OK’ photo.
“Even though getting in and out of the car and having to stand there was enough of a painful challenge to exhaust him, he still smiled.”
Mitchell-Coburn turned herself in to police five days after the crash.
She remains on bail and will return to court for sentencing on August 4.
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