Susan Leslie O’Brien faces jail after motorcyclist killed in Bali crash

A Sydney woman facing six years in a Bali jail after a man was killed by a car accident has spoken about the tragic event, revealing she had plans to move to the holiday island permanently.

Susan O’Brien, 49, faces six years jail following the fatal crash the killed a teenage motorcyclist. Picture: Facebook

Exclusive: A Sydney woman could face six years in a Bali jail after a man was killed in a horrific accident on the holiday island.

Susan Leslie O’Brien, 49 of Eastwood, ran over a motorcyclist after he fell on to a busy road in Jembrana, in rural north Bali.

She is currently being held by police and faces charges of negligent driving causing death, which carries a maximum of six years in jail. The Australian Consulate has informed her that she is under arrest, however, no formal charges have been laid.

The motorcycle involved in the fatal crash in rural Bali. Picture: Supplied

The car that crashed into the Indonesian teenager in rural Bali. Picture: Supplied.

“All I know is that I could go to prison for five years,” O’Brien said in an exclusive interview

with News Corp from an open waiting room.

O’Brien recalls that when she overtook the truck the motorcyclist was a “pin point in the

distance”.

“As he came closer I flashed my lights at him like crazy and sounded the horn. He veered

away from me and I was trying to get back behind the truck. I think he hit the shoulder of

road and he lost balance and that’s why he was listing.

“ … I ran over him. That was the impact. I saw it and I felt and that’s the end of it,” O’Brien said.

The motorcyclist — 19-year-old Rizki Akbar Putra — died at the scene.

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“When I ran over him, I pulled over and was stopping traffic to call the police. I was saying

‘sorry, sorry’ and flapping my arms around,” O’Brien said.

“I know how the man’s family feels because I watched my partner die when he was in a

motorbike accident. I went to the scene and stayed with him the whole day while he died. I

heard the family of the man in the police station last night, which was hard.”

Susan O’Brien, 49 is being held by Indonesian police. Picture: Facebook

Susan O’Brien allegedly crashed into a motorcycle. Picture: Facebook

Bali’s chief of traffic police in Jembrana, Mr Widyatmoko Yoga said urine tests revealed that O’Brien was not under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.

“The roads are in good condition with asphalt and road markings with broken lines, which confirms that vehicles can overtake on that part of the road,” Mr Widyatmoko said.

Ms O’Brien, who bought land in the Jembrana Regency earlier this year to build a larger education centre — has been travelling to Bali for five years where she runs and the Made Susan Education Centre in the rural community teaching English to local kids. She also supports a sterilisation program for wild dogs and has a candle making business that funds the dog program. She finances the education centre from her own funds.

The passport belonging to Susan Leslie O’Brien, who is being held by Bali police. Picture: Supplied.

In Sydney, Ms O’Brien recently worked for the Wesley Mission doing in home care.

“My plan was to move to Bali permanently next year, preferably not in the jail,” she said. Seven of the students from the education centre came to visit her at the police station.

According to Wayan Budiasa, who teaches at the centre — says Ms O’Brien is an important part of their community.

“Susan is a very kind lady who supports our local community. She supports all of the activities at the education centre and brings English books for the library. She also supports a sterilisation program for wild dogs in Bali,” Mr Budiasa said.

Originally published as Susan Leslie O’Brien faces jail after motorcyclist killed in Bali crash