Dylan Norman pleads guilty to killing Benalla teenager Caleb Puttyfoot in shocking hit-run

The driver who ran over and killed a Benalla teenager before fleeing the scene lost his licence for evading police just two months before the collision.

A killer driver who ran over and killed a beloved Benalla teenager had his licence taken away from him just two months before the shocking hit-run.
Dylan Mark Norman, 24, pleaded guilty in the Shepparton County Court on December 9 after he ran over Caleb Puttyfoot before he fled the scene in a state of panic.

Norman pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, failing to stop at the scene, driving disqualified and concealing damage to avoid it being used as evidence.

Norman was driving at 76km/h in a 60km/h zone along Bridge Rd West on the evening of August 4, 2023, when he hit Mr Puttyfoot who was crossing the road adjacent to a pedestrian crossing.

Mr Puttyfoot had just finished work at Harley’s Pizza and was on his way home.

Norman had a green light while Mr Puttyfoot had crossed the road with a red pedestrian signal.

A witness outside the Royal Hotel told police they heard a “large thump” which sounded like a car running over a wheelie bin.

Mr Puttyfoot was flown to Royal Melbourne Hospital in a critical condition but died nine days later from his injuries.

Caleb Puttyfoot was 16 when he was mowed down finishing a shift of work. Picture: Facebook

Norman, who “panicked” due to being an unlicensed driver, attempted to conceal the damage to his 2008 Mitsubishi Triton caused by the collision.

He was handed into police by his father, who told them his son had made admissions to hitting Mr Puttyfoot.

When police attended Norman’s Baddaginnie address on August 7, they found his car with “recent repair work” before he was arrested in Tallygaroopna later that day.

Norman’s licence was disqualified in the Benalla Magistrates’ Court in June 2023, the court heard.

Norman had multiple prior convictions to driving while suspended and was also convicted for dangerous driving while being pursued by police.

Michelle Guppy, Mr Puttyfoot’s mother, told the court it has been “the most painful and traumatic experience” of her life.

She said she wished everyday she picked her son up from work, and felt anger that he was left on the side of the road to die.

“I cry myself to sleep almost every night,” Ms Guppy said.

“I’ll never see Caleb grow up, finish his apprenticeship or get married.”

Mr Puttyfoot’s sister Jayde Ramage said her grief was “out of control” while his brother Benjamin Ramage told the court “I just miss him so much”.

Family and friends gathered for a moving service to honour the life of Caleb Puttyfoot. Picture: Jack Colantuono

Norman’s lawyer Glenn Cooper told the court the offending was “objectively serious” and that a term of imprisonment was conceded.

He said Norman’s driving history made the offending even more serious.

Mr Cooper told the court his client was remorseful and had acknowledged the impact of his offending.
Mr Cooper also told the court Norman had entered an early plea of guilty and asked the court for a “shorter than usual” non-parole period.

Norman was a first-responder at a single-vehicle collision just weeks before the collision, the court was told.

Judge Geoffrey Chettle said of Norman, “he stopped at that one, but not at this one”.

Prosecutor Phillip Teo said a term of imprisonment was certainly warranted.

Dylan Norman was a first responder at a crash just two weeks before he killed Caleb Puttyfoot. Picture: Supplied

Judge Chettle said Norman — the eldest of four siblings — should have become “more careful” rather than “more reckless” considering his past with road accidents, which included a bad collision involving his brother.

The court heard Norman had a difficult upbringing with fractured relationships within his family and had symptoms consistent with PTSD and depression.

The Baddaginnie man was supported in court by his mother, aunty, partner and his sister.

Judge Chettle will sentence Norman at 11am on Wednesday, where it’s anticipated he’ll have his licence cancelled for at least four years in addition to any possible jail time.