Dylan Norman sentenced over hit-run death of Benalla’s Caleb Puttyfoot

A “stupid and irresponsible menace” who left a teenager to die after he struck him on a Benalla street while driving without a licence has been jailed.

A “cowardly” killer driver who left a teenager to die after striking him while speeding and unlicensed has been jailed.
Dylan Mark Norman, 24, was jailed for two years and nine months in the Shepparton County Court on December 11.

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 doing 76km/h in a 60km/h zone along Bridge Rd West on the evening of August 4, 2023, when he hit 16-year-old Caleb 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, about 1-2m from the crossing.

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.

Dylan Norman left Caleb Puttyfoot to die after striking him with his car on a Benalla street. Picture: Facebook

Norman, who “panicked” because he was unlicensed, attempted to conceal the damage caused by the collision to his 2008 Mitsubishi Triton.

He initially claimed the damage was caused by hitting a kangaroo.

He was handed into police custody by his father, who told them his son had made admissions to hitting Mr Puttyfoot.
Norman was fined $5000 and lost his licence for two years for evading police less than two months before he killed Mr Puttyfoot.

Norman had two other prior convictions for driving offences.

The court heard Norman was at risk of recidivism due to substance abuse and a difficult childhood and that prison would be “more difficult” for him than most.

Dylan Norman attempted to conceal the evidence on his car that he struck Mr Puttyfoot. Picture: Supplied

Judge Geoffrey Chettle said Norman was a “stupid and irresponsible menace on the roads” and he had ruined his own life along with Mr Puttyfoot and his family.

Judge Chettle said Norman’s actions in leaving Mr Puttyfoot for dead were “cowardly”.

Judge Chettle told the court he reduced the sentence he would usually have imposed due to Norman’s early guilty plea and relatively young age.

Norman was sentenced to a maximum of four years and one month.

Norman has served three days in pre-sentenced detention and his licence was suspended for four years.