Latrobe Valley County Court: Peter Agius found guilty of culpable driving causing death of Glengarry dad Adam Sutton

The family of a popular Gippsland dad and livestock agent who was killed in a horrific crash have told a court they are in a “living nightmare”.

Glengarry dad and livestock agent Adam John Sutton died in a tragic crash on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 that left his son with critical injuries.

A tragic crash that killed a Gippsland dad and left his son fighting for life has torn apart their family, with loved ones sharing their “indescribable” grief and heartache in court.

Traralgon man Peter Agius, 23, faced the Latrobe Valley County Court on Friday after he was found guilty by a jury of culpable driving causing the death of Glengarry dad and livestock agent Adam John Sutton and negligently causing serious injury to his son Darcy on January 31, 2023.

Adam was travelling to his Glengarry home after picking up Darcy from his first day of school when they were involved in a multi-car crash with a distracted Agius at the intersection of Traralgon-Maffra and Farmers roads.

The 35-year-old died at the scene while Darcy was flown to the Royal Children’s Hospital with critical injuries.

After the crash, South Gippsland Livestock created a fundraiser page which raised almost $73,000.

On Friday, the court was filled with Adam’s family members, who described him as a joker and having a “wicked sense of humour”.

In a victim impact statement, Adam’s mum Leanne Sutton said losing her son was a “harrowing” experience no parent should ever have to endure.

Adam Sutton (middle) pictured with his daughter Pippa (left) and son Darcy (right).

“It’s a living nightmare — which sadly can only be truly understood with a lived experience,” Ms Sutton said.

“I desperately wanted to go to the scene and hug my baby one more time and just tell him how much I loved him.

“To lose a child is (torture) and it’s always been my biggest fear — you don’t really live, you exist — there’s so many emotional scars that will never heal.”

Ms Sutton said she still hadn’t been able to read or respond to all the tributes and flowers she received.

“We’d give everything to have him here — he had such a sparkle in his blue eyes,” she said.

Adam’s wife Krista said she was unable to sleep and suffered from anxiety, PTSD and depression.

A memorial that reads "Sutton" has been left near the crash site to remember the dad. Picture: Jack Colantuono

“Reliving this nightmare again during this trial process has been traumatic,” she said.

Krista said she had to face the reality that her husband was never coming home and had to tell their daughter Pippa she would never see her dad again.

She added she would never forget walking behind the ambulance seeing her son on the stretcher, and spent a large amount of time in hospital with him, praying he would survive.

The fatal crash that claimed Mr Sutton's life occurred at the intersection of Traralgon-Maffra Rd and Farmers Rd in Glengarry. Picture: Jack Colantuono

“Our son’s injured brain couldn’t retain information that his father was dead,” Krista said.

“I miss Adam so much — he always made everything feel right — he made everything fun.”

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Adam’s dad Ray said his entire family was in a state of shock and the pain was “indescribable”.

“We can never have the same family functions,” he said.

Agius, who appeared from the prison cell, sat through a number of the victim impact statements with his head in his hands.

Judge Kevin Doyle adjourned the matter to the Melbourne County Court in June to hear submissions from defence lawyer Stephen Peterson, with Agius remanded until then.