Amelie Sacha Vergez: Teen driver who hit and killed cyclist Lindsay Smyrk, 75, at Woodend

Young motorist cries in court as Judge hands down sentence over death of “genuinely nice bloke” and avid Gisborne cyclist.

Cyclist Lindsay Smyrk, who died after being hit by a car while cycling at Woodend in October 2022. Picture: Facebook

A loving grandfather has been remembered as a fit and athletic 75-year-old who had many years ahead of him, before his untimely death at Woodend in October 2022.

Bendigo County Court was told Dr Lindsay Smyrk was hit by a car while cycling along the Black Forest Rd, on route to his Gisborne home.

The then 19-year-old driver, hospitality worker Amelie Sacha Vergez, wept in the dock on Friday morning as she was sentenced on a charge of dangerous driving causing death.

Cyclist Lindsay Smyrk, who died after being hit by a car while cycling at Woodend in October 2022. Picture: Facebook

Judge Stewart Bayles said Vergez had shown genuine remorse, had apologised to Dr Smyrk’s family and entered an early guilty plea.

He said she had suffered psychologically following the collision and the victim’s family had responded with compassion towards her.

Judge Bayles said Vergez, now aged 20, would be spared jail time and instead perform 200 hours of unpaid community service work and undertake a two and a half year community corrections order.

He cancelled Vergez’s driver's licence and convicted her of dangerous driving causing death.

“No sentence imposed by this court be seen as a reflection of the significance of his (Dr Smyrk’s) life,” Judge Bayles said in comments he addressed to the victim’s family.

“I hope this will bring a measure of closure to you — at least for this part of the process.”

Supporters embrace outside Bendigo Court after the sentencing of 20-year-old Amelie Vergez to a Community Corrections Order and unpaid community work. Picture: Julieanne Strachan

Judge Bayles said Vergez had not been using drugs or alcohol and had been driving at less than the posted 80km/h speed limit at the time of the collision.

He said there had been a gentle curve in the road and Dr Smyrk would only have been visible for a short distance, but that Vergez still should have seen him.

“This was more than a split second’s inattention but was still a relatively short period of time,” Judge Bayles said.

The court was told Dr Smyrk had been dressed in colourful clothing, had a flashing light and was keeping to the left of the fog line, used to help drivers stay in their lanes.

Dr Smyrk’s cycling club, Northern Cycling, paid tribute to him at time of his death, remembering him as a “dedicated club member, a competitive D grade racer and a “genuinely nice bloke” who would be sorely missed.