County Court: Truck driver Mendo Vrskovski pleads guilty to dangerous driving causing death of cyclist Ben Fryer at Pascoe Vale

The mother of a cyclist killed by a truck driver in Melbourne’s north has recounted the moment she “shattered into a million pieces” as she gave an emotional tribute to her “superman”.

Born and raised in Lismore, NSW, 43-year-old Ben Fryer was the victim of a fatal road incident after he was hit by a tow truck on his bicycle at Pascoe Vale, VIC in April 2022. Picture: Supplied

The mother of a cyclist killed by a truck driver in Melbourne’s north has recounted the moment she “shattered into a million pieces” as she gave an emotional tribute to her “superman”.

Mendo Vrskovski pleaded guilty in the County Court to dangerous driving causing death, on top of several summary offences.

Cyclist Ben Fryer, of Brunswick West, died when he was hit by the 49-year-old tow truck driver on Melville Rd near Brearley Pde, Pascoe Vale in April 2022.

Ben Fryer loved animals and often volunteered at shelters. Picture: Supplied

During a plea hearing on Thursday, Ben’s mother along with his aunt and sister gave emotional victim impact statements as they fought for their loved one to be remembered for who he was, and not “another statistic”.

“There are no words to convey the impact Ben’s death had, and continues to have on me. It is beyond shattering,” Mum Jennifer Simpson said.

“At first, utter disbelief. Shock, screaming, shaking, nausea, anger, rage.

“I remember screaming uncontrollably … I could hear myself, but I could not stop, it was startling to hear my voice, almost as if I was out of my body, watching and hearing this primal sound of utter grief.

“The effect of this crime has been life altering, destroying my life in every way, reducing me to someone I no longer recognise, nor want to be … I walk as a stranger in my own skin, in some weird parallel universe, isolated and separate from the rest of the world which carries on regardless, as if nothing has changed. But everything has changed.”

She said her son was courageous even when “shaking in his boots”, she called him her “superman” and bought him a cup with the logo which he used daily.

Each time she is reminded of his death, she is taken back to the moment everything “shattered into a million pieces”, the court heard.

A ‘ghost bike’ left near the scene of the fatal incident at Pascoe Vale. Picture: Supplied

She said Ben was born and raised in Lismore and spent time in Grafton and Coffs Harbour before moving to Melbourne about a decade ago.

Her son was kind, generous, and humble; he was the one who did not avert his gaze from the homeless and offered them food, and once the coat he had worn.

He loved animals, especially dogs, and volunteered at animal shelters across NSW and Victoria and loved his job and colleagues at Dan Murphy’s, she told the court.

She revealed that she often searched through social media to find clips of him speaking, terrified that she would one day forget the sound of his voice.

Judge Duncan Allen told Ms Simpson there was nothing he could say to ease her pain but said the impact of her son’s death could never be understated.

Vrskovski, of Meadow Heights, was well-supported by family and friends in court when he rose to enter his guilty plea on Thursday.

Mendo Vrskovski, 49 leaving the County Court on Thursday after his guilty plea.

He sat silently in a grey suit with his head bowed as the statements were read.

The matter was adjourned for a further plea hearing on February 5 where more victim impact statements are expected to be heard.

His bail was extended until the next hearing.