Glenn Archer cops conviction after hitting cyclist with truck in Heidelberg
A cyclist hit by a truck driven by Glenn Archer on a busy Melbourne road says his life “will never be the same” as the former AFL legend was slapped with a conviction.
Police & Courts
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North Melbourne great Glenn Archer has been slapped with a conviction after he admitted to hitting a cyclist with his truck on a busy Melbourne road.
Archer, 50, fronted the Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where he pleaded guilty to one count of careless driving after his truck’s trailer clipped cyclist, Mark Vander, causing him to crash on Rosanna Rd in Heidelberg about 1.30pm on January 11.
The dual Premiership player had merged into the right lane to overtake the cyclist but when he merged back into the left lane he failed to clear the cyclists path, sending Mr Vander flying off his bike and onto the road.
Mr Vander, 58, sat behind Archer in the courtroom wearing a neck brace as magistrate Timothy Hoare ruled that more than half of his victim impact statement was “speculation” and was therefore inadmissable.
In the statement — which was partially read to the court — Mr Vander said he had suffered three broken ribs and had to have bolts and six plates installed to treat a critical neck injury.
“My life will never be the same,” he said.
“(I have) permanent physical and mental injuries.”
Mr Vander said his life now consists of doctor visits and rehabilitation.
The victim, however, accepted that the footy star was not aware that he had hit him at the time.
Dashcam footage of the nasty crash shows the truck – with Archer’s tree logging company logo on the back – merging into the left lane before colliding with the cyclist, flinging Mr Vander onto the road.
Archer then fails to stop to assist the injured man.
Mr Vander had called Archer’s tree removal business – where he is a part owner – to confront him after the crash but the former footy star allegedly dismissed the claim as a scam.
He later handed himself in to police where he told them he had “absolutely zero idea” that he had hit someone, the court heard.
“If I knew I hit someone, I’m definitely stopping,” he told them.
After seeing the footage, Archer conceded that he had done the wrong thing and requested to call the victim but was discouraged from reaching out by police.
“He offers his apology,” his lawyer told the court.
“Mr Archer wants this behind him.”
He told the court his client needed his licence because he is “on the road all day, every day”.
“If you look at his history, he’s a not person who drives like this,” he said.
The magistrate, who noted Archer was immediately remorseful and was not facing charges of negligent driving or causing injury, decided to allow the Roos legend to keep his licence.
He handed him a $1500 fine instead, as well as a conviction. The offence carries a maximum penalty of $2200.
The Norm Smith Medallist played 311 games for the Kangaroos and is widely considered one of the toughest and most courageous footballers of all time.
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