Man dead, Lucas Dorn charged after allegedly performing burnouts at Stockrington

A man charged after a pedestrian was killed following a burnout in the Hunter Valley got behind the wheel on a suspended licence, a court has heard. The man killed has been identified.

A young man has been charged after allegedly performing burnouts which hit and killed a man in the Hunter Valley on Sunday, with the vehicle found burnt-out a short time later.

Garden maintenance worker Lucas Dorn, 22, was allegedly driving a modified Ford Fairmont with a suspended licence on Sunday when he is accused of performing a burnout on a fire trail off Haul Rd, Stockrington and hitting 53-year-old John Callaghan who later died.

He was driving about 22km southeast of Kurri Kurri, when he crashed.

Hunter Valley Police District officers arrived and were told a vehicle was allegedly performing a burnout when it hit three onlookers. The car was then driven from the scene.

Mr Callaghan suffered critical head injuries and died a short time later.

Parramatta Local Court.

Police allege the car also hit two women who left the scene before emergency services arrived.

About 2.40am, the alleged vehicle involved was found burnt-out on McFarlanes Rd, Chisholm. It was seized for forensic examination.

Police established a crime scene at both locations and detectives began an investigation into the incidents.

Following extensive inquiries, about 5.30pm on Sunday Dorn was arrested at Maitland Police Station where he presented himself.

He was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death-drive manner dangerous, causing bodily harm by misconduct, in charge of motor vehicle, causing bodily harm by misconduct, in charge of motor vehicle, negligent driving (occasioning death), negligent driving (no death or grievous bodily harm), prolong, sustain etc loss of traction, and failing to comply with requirement made under section.

He was refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Monday when an application for bail was made.

Dorn faced court via video link from Maitland where he sobbed and buried his head in his hands as Magistrate Les Brennan read material following the incident.

The court heard Lucas was recently placed on a 12-month conditional release order for dangerous driving, for which he was not convicted.

He is also on bail for domestic related offences subject to a hearing in October.

In applying for bail, Dorn’s lawyer told the court his client, whose partner was expected to give birth in eight weeks, was mentally unwell and would be “extremely vulnerable in a custodial environment”.

“There may be alternatives to full time custody once these matters are resolved,’’ he said.

He offered for his client to live at Nerong, report to Raymond Terrace Police Station, not drive and his father would post a $5000 surety.

However, Mr Brennan told the court matters were serious and refused bail.

“I know people are watching and they have been there of their own free will but they didn’t want this to happen,’’ he said.

He will next face court on August 27.

Originally published as Man dead, Lucas Dorn charged after allegedly performing burnouts at Stockrington