Wodonga woman Abby Sturgess fronts court over death of cyclist

A young driver was on Instagram and Snapchat for nearly two minutes in the moments before she hit a well-known cyclist from behind and killed him.

Experienced rider Antohny Reeckman died after his cycle was struck from behind by a Hyundai Tucson driven by Wodonga woman Abby Sturgess.

A young nurse was on Instagram and Snapchat for nearly two minutes moments before she hit a well-known cyclist from behind and killed him.

Abby Sturgess, of Wodonga, has admitted to a charge of dangerous driving causing the death of avid cyclist and photographer Anthony Reeckman along the Springhurst-Rutherglen Road on the morning of January 27, 2023.

Sturgess, 23, appeared in the County Court at Wodonga on Tuesday for a plea hearing, flanked by her parents and other well wishers.

The plea hearing will continue on Wednesday morning and Judge Peter Rozen indicated he may be in a position to sentence her that afternoon.

Sturgess was sending and receiving Snapchat and Instagram messages immediately prior to the crash that resulted in Mr Reeckman, 59, vaulting onto the bonnet and hitting the windscreen of Sturgess’ car before being thrown on to a grass verge.

Much-loved community member Anthony Reeckman died after his bike was hit from behind by Wodonga woman Abby Sturgess along the Springhurst-Rutherglen Road in January 2023.

Sturgess travelled a further 70m after the collision before making a U-turn and returning to where Mr Reeckman, an experienced cyclist from Norong, lay injured.

She realised he was not breathing, called 000 and was instructed on how to administer CPR. Two other motorists stopped to help revive Mr Reeckman but he was pronounced dead by paramedics.

When interviewed after the crash, Sturgess denied using her phone and claimed the sun had been in her eyes.

The prosecution case was that her level of inattention was more than a momentary lapse, with social media apps being accessed on her mobile phone in the minutes leading up to the collision, and without there being any evidence of emergency braking or steering.

In court on Tuesday, her lawyer Jo Swiney said Sturgess was working as a nurse at the Wangaratta Hospital and ultimately wanted to become a midwive.

Her employer has agreed for her to continue as a nurse after the court’s outcome which has given her a great deal of relief, Ms Swiney submitted.

She said the references tendered in court spoke to Sturgess as a compassionate, caring and thoughtful young woman who has expressed sorrow and regret for her actions.

Prosecutor Ben Kerlin said jail was the only appropriate outcome, given the seriousness of her offending.