Roma man Jessie Jade Dennis jailed for dangerous driving causing the death of Riley Wells

The deliberate act of putting his nephew in the front seat of a single-cab ute with only a lap sash as seat belt has landed a man in court after the six-year-old boy was killed in a horror highway crash.

Riley Wells will always be in his family’s heart.

What was heartbreak when he died in an early-morning crash on the Carnarvon Highway has turned into a celebration of his short, but joyous life.

Years after his death Riley’s mum Shanowahh Dennis, his dad Ian Wells and his three siblings sit by his grave, eat, drink and remember the good times.

“Riley was very bright and bubbly, he just loved his sibling,” Ms Dennis said

“He loved fishing, shooting and pigging, he loved it all, he was a very happy little boy.

“They know he is not coming back and it’s OK to be sad.

“They love going there and spending time with him.

“It is a good thing for them, so they are not hurting any more.”

Ms Dennis put on a brave face as she spoke about her son, on the footsteps of the Toowoomba Courthouse, while inside her brother, and the man who caused the crash, was led away to jail.

Jessie Jade Dennis pleaded guilty in Toowoomba District Court to dangerous driving causing death and was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, suspended after eight months.

.

Jessie Jade Dennis has been jailed for dangerous driving causing the death of Riley Wells.

Ms Dennis said that despite the sentence, she was left with unanswered questions.

“I am never going to know the full truth, no matter what, I am never going to get the closure that I specifically want,” she said.

“Our family has been torn apart. It can never be put back together. Half our family is on one side and half is on the other.

“It shouldn’t be about the adults, we all have kids, there are a lot of cousins and they all love each other.”

Shanowahh Dennis and Ian Wells speak about their son Riley Wells after Jessie Jade Dennis was jailed for dangerous driving causing death.

How the tragedy unfolded

The court was told Dennis and his partner Summer-Ann Michelle Harrison took Riley kangaroo shooting on January 5, 2022.

The trio were driving back to Roma in a single cab ute in the early hours of January 6.

Riley, who was six at the time, was sitting beside his uncle with only a lap sash seatbelt as a restraint.

The court was told he started kicking the steering wheel and while Dennis tried to control the young boy he swerved across the highway, lost control of the vehicle and rolled it.

While Dennis and Ms Harrison were able to exit the wreck, Riley could not.

Moments later a semi-trailer travelling in the opposite direction struck the wreck with enough force to send it rolling for about 70m.

Riley Wells has been remembered a bright, bubbly boy.

Riley’s broken body was found by the roadside. He died about 15 minutes before paramedics arrived.

The court was told Dennis was driving a defective ute and its rear brakes did not work.

Added to this, Riley was not properly restrained, as he was sitting in the front seat with only a lap sash keeping him in place.

Defence barrister Scott Lynch told the court that his client was truly contrite.

“He has suffered, and continues to suffer grief,” he said.

In handing down the jail sentence, Judge Dennis Lynch said Riley’s death was caused by the improper restraints.

“He should not have been in the vehicle at all because there was no child restraint,” Judge Lynch said.

“Riley kicked out and contacted you or the steering wheel, your attention was distracted, your vehicle went on the other side, you tried to correct it, lost control and the vehicle rolled.

“Within a short time a large truck travelling in the opposite direction collided with the vehicle and sadly Riley was killed.

“This is a serious case of dangerous driving, not because of your defective vehicle, but because of the position Riley was in.

“I don’t see this as a momentary distraction case, but rather a deliberate course of action by you, deliberately driving, taking a risk you must have known was contrary to the law.”

Originally published as Roma man Jessie Jade Dennis jailed for dangerous driving causing the death of Riley Wells