Paul Sinclair: Luke Elphick jailed over Hume Hwy crash that killed Paul Sinclair

A young firefighter says he wishes he could turn back time after causing a horror crash which killed Albury man Paul Sinclair (pictured) after his 4WD and camper trailer rolled on the Hume Highway.

Paul Sinclair (pictured), 60, died in a car crash caused by Luke Elphick on the Hume Hwy south of Gundagai

Distraught former RFS volunteer Luke Elphick, who killed beloved grandpa Paul Sinclair in a horrific crash at a “known accident spot” on the Hume Hwy at Tumbalong last year was taken away to jail on Tuesday morning.

Elphick, now 32, of Gundagai, previously pleaded guilty in the Wagga Wagga District Court to dangerous driving causing Mr Sinclair’s death and to dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Sinclair’s wife, Gail Sinclair.

Paul Sinclair, was a beloved husband, father and grandfather.

The Sinclairs, of East Albury, were towing their camper trailer on the Hume Hwy just outside Gundagai in August last year when Elphick pulled onto the highway in his Toyota HiLux ute and hit the Sinclairs’ Nissan 4WD.

Mr Sinclair, who was driving, died when the Nissan rolled and Mrs Sinclair suffered a broken collar bone and ongoing muscle and nerve pain and continues to deal with the emotional aftermath of the crash.

District Court Judge Gordon Lerve said no jail sentence could bring back Mr Sinclair, and the three-year jail he handed Elphick was not a measure of the worth of Mr Sinclair’s life.

Judge Lerve said Elphick failed in his duty he had to other drivers to check it was safe to cross the Hume Hwy.

Elphick gave evidence at a hearing in December, where Judge Lerve said he was “understandably … distressed’’, “terribly sorry” and that he wished he could turn back time.

Judge Lerve found Elphick was “profoundly and genuinely remorseful”, had no criminal record, and was a stalwart of the local RFS brigade, whose captain, Stephen Luff, has vowed to campaign to have him reinstated when he is released from jail.

Mr Luff described the intersection where Elphick killed Mr Sinclair as a “known accident spot”.

Luke Elphick was described as a hardworking, honest member of the Gundagai community.

A string of glowing character references, including from Cootamundra-Gundagai Mayor AJ McAlister, described Elphick as a hard worker, a dedicated RFS volunteer, and a man of integrity and honesty.

In jailing Elphick, Judge Lerve said: “The references are a poignant reminder, not that one is necessary, that matters such as this are tragedies on a number of levels’’.

“Clearly the late Mr Sinclair was a much-loved husband and father who is and will be greatly missed.”

Elphick will be eligible for parole in 2023.

Mr Sinclair left behind Ms Sinclair, children Melissa and Brent and grandchildren Leah and Olivia.

Originally published as Paul Sinclair: Luke Elphick jailed over Hume Hwy crash that killed Paul Sinclair