Jesse Davies: Man sentenced for life-threatening Alfredton crash

A brickie who caused a horror car crash and sent another to hospital for weeks says he “can’t imagine” what he put an Alfredton family through.

A bricklayer responsible for causing an elderly man life-threatening injuries in a Ballarat car crash will spend no more time in custody.

Jesse Davies, 30, appeared in the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Earlier, the court heard Davies had been driving a Holden Captiva south along Longley St in Alfredton when he failed to give way to a Toyota Camry driving west along Leopold St about 11.30am on January 22, 2022.

On Tuesday, the court was told Davies was driving at 90km/h in the 50km/h zone and reached for his phone as he approached the intersection.

He braked suddenly when he saw the other car, veering to the right roughly one second before impact.

The intersection of Leopold and Longley Streets in Alfredton, facing south on Longley, where the horrific crash took place. Photo: Google Maps

The crash put the other driver, an 86-year-old Alfredton man, in hospital for 26 days with life-threatening wounds, including broken ribs, a broken pelvis and several internal injuries.

The court heard Davies got out of his car, approached the victim, called out to bystanders to phone an ambulance, and fled the scene.

He returned to his aunt’s home, who called the police two-and-a-half hours later to tell them Davies was “ready to be arrested”.

A statement written by the elderly victim described his consequent pain, fatigue, and problems with balance.

He said he had lost confidence and was now more dependent on others.

The man’s family said the event caused them “incredible distress” and a “sense of helplessness”.

Davies made full admissions when interviewed.

In a psychological report he was quoted as saying he “felt like s--t”.

“I can’t imagine what I’ve put him through or his family,” he said.

“I hate myself for it.”

Davies pleaded guilty to negligently causing serious injury, failing to render assistance after an accident, driving while disqualified, and using an unregistered vehicle.

He was sentenced to 77 days’ jail already served and a three-year community correction order.