Family of David Thomson killed in Delacombe hit-and-run speak of their ‘shattered’ world

A police officer who was first on the scene of her father’s hit-run death in Ballarat has recounted how her world was “shattered into pieces”.

A police officer who was first on the scene of her father’s death has recounted how her world was “shattered into pieces”.

Alfredton driver Bradley John Spark, now 40, fatally struck cyclist David Thomson, 60, in Delacombe on October 21, 2021, after cutting a corner and hitting the bike while travelling more than 50km/h.

David Thomson with his daughter Sophie. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Spark then fled the scene and planned to modify the car, including removing its number plates and replacing its windscreen and spoiler before hiding it at a Ross Creek property.

Mr Thomson’s daughter, Detective Senior Constable Sophie Thomson, attended the scene of her father’s death.

In a statement read out in court, she said her world was “shattered into pieces”.

“I attended the scene of my own father’s death,” Ms Thomson said.

“How are you able to put into words how that affects someone?”

She said she could not forget the image of her father lying in the middle of the road covered with a white sheet.

“I am reminded nearly hourly I no longer have a father,” Ms Thomson said.

“No one to walk me down the aisle; no grandfather to chase around any future children; no hugs that only a father can give to make a bad day better; no one to make breakfast on Father’s Day.

“I no longer have a father to lean on.”

David Thomson’s children, Dylan and Sophie. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

David’s son Dylan said in court that he had lost “the most important, influential person” in his life because of Spark’s “simply unforgivable” actions.

“The damage caused on that day is simply immeasurable,” he said.

“Every day I struggle to gather the strength to go on another day.

“At the end of each day there is no remaining strength left.”

He said Spark was “not fit to be an active member of our society” because he had “so little regard for human life that he fled the scene in an effort to try and get away with it”.

In another statement, Mr Thomson’s wife Anne said she started her days by kissing a photo of her husband.

Bradley Spark has pleaded guilty to the hit-run that killed cyclist David Thomson. Picture: Supplied

“Now I wish I could kiss him in person,” she said.

“I waited 45 years to find the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

“David was so worth waiting for … I miss you darling. I miss you so much.”

Mr Thomson was also a popular member of the North Ballarat Cricket Club.

Spark’s lawyer said his client had shown remorse and was “not by any means insensitive to the loss that he has caused and the damage that he has caused through his crimes”.

“When he saw the victim impact statement his observation was, ‘It breaks my heart,’” he said.

Spark, a concreter, pleaded guilty to failing to stop after a fatal accident, failing to render assistance after a fatal accident, and driving in a manner dangerous causing death.

Spark will be sentenced at a later date.